Vaccine

ABSTRACT

The application relates to antibodies and fragments capable of binding HIV-1 gp120 protein, nucleic acids encoding such proteins, to the use of such proteins to identify active compounds, and to the use of the compounds as vaccines.

[0001] The application relates to antibodies and fragments, capable of binding HIV-1 gp120 protein, to nucleic acids encoding such proteins, to the use of such proteins to identify active compounds, and to the use of the compounds as vaccines.

[0002] HIV-1 induces CD4⁺ T lymphocyte depletion and a subsequent acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the host. Virus entry into host cells is mediated by viral envelope glycoproteins, the exterior 120 (gp120) and the transmembrane envelope glycoprotein 41 (gp41); gp120 represents the most exposed protein and forms a trimeric envelope protein spike on the virion. HIV-1 enters by direct fusion between the virion surface Env protein and the target cell, in a process that requires viral Env protein and two distinct cell surface receptor molecules, CD4 and a specific chemokine receptor (Berger, et al. (1999), Chemokine receptors as HIV-1 co-receptors: roles in viral entry, tropism, and disease. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 17, 657-700). Although HIV-1 strain specificity to chemokine co-receptors is complex, CCR5 is used preferentially by most primary isolates and not by T cell-adapted laboratory strains (TCLA); CXCR4 is used preferentially by laboratory strains and some primary isolates. CCR3 and CCR2b have also been reported as HIV-1 co-receptors.

[0003] Several chemokine ligands are reported to inhibit HIV-1 infection. CXCR4, used as co-receptor by T-tropic HIV-1 strains, can be blocked by SDF-1. HIV-1-infected patients with SDF-1β gene (SDP1 3′-A allele) variants are associated with slower progression to AIDS. Other CCR5 chemokine ligands such as RANTES, MIP-1α and MIP-1β were shown to inhibit M-tropic HIV-1 infection of CD4⁺ cells. The role of CCR5 as an in vivo co-receptor is supported by resistance to R5 HIV-1 virus infection in individuals homozygous for a 32 bp CCR5 gene deletion (32-CCR5). Allele polymorphisms in the CCR5 promoter and CCR2 (CCR2-64I) genes are also reported to influence in the progression to AIDS.

[0004] Several lines of evidence suggest that gp120 interaction with target cell receptors involves initial binding to CD4; this induces conformational changes in gp120, enhancing co-receptor binding. The gp120 regions for co-receptor binding have been studied by antibody inhibition, mutagenesis and X-ray crystallography. Highly conserved Env residues important for co-receptor binding were localised on two beta strands in the gp120 bridging sheet minidomain. The nature of the gp120-receptor interaction associated with conformational changes in Env have important implications for antibody blocking of Env functions.

[0005] The inventors have performed exhaustive analyses of an HIV-1-infected LTNP (>15 years) individual, including HIV-1 chemokine genes associated with AIDS delay, characterisation of the LTNP HIV-1 virus and molecular analysis of the primary and secondary antibody response to the HIV-1 gp120 protein. Genotyping for CCR5, CCR5 promoter, CCR2b and 3UTR-SDF-1β showed no allele mutations known to be associated with AIDS delay. The LTNP isolate was classified as NSI virus by infection of MT-2 cells. LTNP virus gp120 and Nef genes were analysed. Comparative analysis of multiple viral clones of the gp120 C2-V3-C3 region obtained from the donor, several Spanish HIV-1 isolates, and reference virus strains indicate that the donor isolate belongs to the B clade. According to virus phenotype, gp120 V3 regions display NSI/M-tropic markers. No premature stop codons or deletions were found in the Nef gene sequences from the LTNP virus. The humoral response to gp120 shows an IgM response comprised of low affinity polyreactive antibodies that mature to a more competent secondary IgG response. High affinity specific IgG Fabs to gp120 obtained from phage display libraries constructed from the donor were able to neutralise several reference viral strains in vitro, including X4 and R5 HIV-1 virus. One of the IgG Fabs tested (S8) showed in vivo neutralising activity against M-tropic (Bal) HIV-1 virus, using human PBL-reconstituted SCID mice as a viral infection model. Peptide mimotopes able to compete for Fab-gp120 binding were selected from random peptide phage display libraries. Mimopeptide information and molecular modeling of the gp120 structure were used to identify the S8 Fab epitope. The model suggests that the Fab epitope is conformational and involves key gp120 residues implicated in the chemokine co-receptor binding site. This epitope was found conserved in most HIV-1 virus. Fab S8 activity may involve interaction of a charged HCDR3 residue (Arg95) in this Fab with Glu381 in gp120, producing significant conformational changes in the gp120 inner-outer interdomain.

[0006] The information provided by the inventors has resulted in assays and compounds which are useful for studying and/or treating HIV-1 infections.

[0007] The first aspect of the invention provides an antibody or a fragment thereof, comprising a light chain and/or a heavy chain, the light chain or heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID 2, SEQ ID 4, SEQ ID 6 or SEQ ID 8 and/or shown in FIGS. 8 to 11.

[0008] Preferably the fragment of the antibody is capable of binding gp120 protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with the proviso that when part of SEQ ID 4, SEQ ID 6 or SEQ ID 8 are present, at least one amino acid from amino acid number 119 onwards of each sequence is present in the antibody fragment.

[0009] The amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID 2 encodes the light chain for each of the 3 antibodies identified by the inventors, S8, S19 and S20. SEQ ID 4 encodes the heavy chain of S8, SEQ ID 6 encodes the heavy chain of S19 and SEQ ID 8 encodes the heavy chain of S20. These sequences are also shown in FIGS. 8 to 11.

[0010] Preferably the antibody or fragment, according to the invention, comprises an HCDR3 loop, the loop comprising Arg₉₅. This residue has been identified as being especially important in the interaction of the antibodies with gp120. It is believed to form an electrostatic interaction with Glu381 of gp120. Most preferably the HCDR3 loop is that from Fab S8.

[0011] The antibody or fragment may therefore comprise an HCDR3 loop, the loop comprising an Arg residue that interacts electrostatically with gp120 on binding to it.

[0012] Preferably the antibodies or fragments thereof according to the first aspect of the invention comprise at least a fragment of a heavy chain encoded by SEQ ID 6 (S19 heavy chain) and include residue 32 of that peptide at least. This has been identified by the inventors as being involved in gp120 binding.

[0013] The antibody or fragment thereof may alternatively comprise the heavy chain of S20 (SEQ ID 8) and comprise Arg₃₀ and Asp₃₁, which are residues in the HCDR1 region and have been shown by the inventors to be involved in antigen binding. Preferably residues 30 or 31 were replaced by different amino acids to improve gp120 binding. This may be carried out by somatic mutation. Most preferably the changes are from Ser₃₀ and Ser₃₁ to Asp₃₀ and Arg₃₁.

[0014] The preferred substitutions for the S19 and S20 fragments are shown in detail in the article by Torán J. L. et al., European Journal of Immunology, Vol. 31 (2001), pages 128-131.

[0015] The second aspect of the invention provides an antibody or a fragment thereof comprising a light chain and a heavy chain, the light chain comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID 2 and the heavy chain comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ED 4, SEQ ID 6 and SEQ ID 8, the antibody or fragment being capable of binding gp120 protein from HIV.

[0016] Preferably the antibody fragments, according to the first or second aspects of the invention, are F(ab′)₂, Fab or single chain (SchFv) fragments.

[0017] More preferably the antibody fragment used is the Fab S8 antibody.

[0018] Antibodies per se are well known in the art. They usually comprise so-called heavy chains and light chains. One light chain is usually attached to a heavy chain by means of a disulphide bond. Two heavy chains are in turn usually attached to each other by means of one or more disulphide bonds. The antibodies may be one of several different classes of antibody, such as IgG, IgD, IgE, IgA and IgM.

[0019] Preferably the antibodies are human antibodies or fragments. Alternatively, the antibodies may be derived from non-human sources and may preferably be humanised using techniques known in the art.

[0020] Most preferably, the antibody or fragment thereof, is a human IgG antibody or fragment thereof.

[0021] F(ab′)₂ antibodies are formed by digesting antibodies comprising the two light chains and two heavy chains with pepsin. Fab fragments are formed by digesting antibodies comprising the two light chains and two heavy chains with papain to form two Fab fragments consisting of a fragment of heavy chain attached by at least one covalent bond, such as a disulphide bond to a light chain. The techniques for forming F(ab′)₂ and Fab fragments from antibodies are well known in the art.

[0022] Preferably the HIV virus from which the gp120 protein is derived is HIV-1.

[0023] The sequences of gp120 are known to be slightly variable. For example, different sequences are shown in the articles by Myers, et al., (1992); Gurgo, et al. (1998); and McCutchan, et al., 1992).

[0024] Preferably, the sequence of the gp120 used in the invention is Human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HBx2) complete genome; HIV-1/LAV(IIIB) (Ratner, L. et al., (1985)).

[0025] Preferably the antibodies or fragments thereof are capable of binding gp120 with a Kd of at least 1×10⁻¹⁰ M, especially greater than 9.0×10⁻¹⁰ M. Preferably the binding specificity is measured by surface plasmon resonance.

[0026] The third aspect of the invention provides a nucleic acid molecule selected from:

[0027] (a) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes for an antibody or a fragment of an antibody according to the invention;

[0028] (b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleic acid shown in SEQ ID 1, SEQ ID 3, SEQ ID 5 or SEQ ID 7, preferably the nucleic acid sequence comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID 1 and additionally one or more of SEQ ID 3, SEQ ID 5 or SEQ ID 7;

[0029] (c) a nucleic acid molecule, the complementary strand of which hybridises to a nucleic acid molecule as defined in (a) or (b) and which encodes an antibody or a fragment of an antibody which is capable of binding gp120 protein from HFV, especially HIV-1, and which preferably encodes an antibody or a fragment of an antibody, having both heavy chain and light chains; and

[0030] (d) nucleic acid molecules which differ from the sequence of (c) due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.

[0031] Amino acids are encoded by triplets of three nucleotides of a certain sequence, so called codons. For most amino acids there is more than one codon. This is called “degeneracy”. Hence, one or more triplets may be replaced by other triplets, but the nucleic acid molecule may still encode an identical peptide.

[0032] Nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence having greater than 90% homology, preferably 92, 94, 95, 96, 98 or 99% homology to SEQ ID 1, SEQ ID 3, SEQ ID 5 or SEQ ID 7 are also provided by the invention. Fragments of antibodies encoded by such nucleic acid molecules are also provided. Preferably the antibodies and fragments are capable of binding gp120 protein from HIV, most preferably HIV-1.

[0033] The nucleic acid sequences for the light chain, S8 heavy chain, S19 heavy chain and S20 heavy chain are also shown in FIGS. 8 to 11.

[0034] The nucleic acid sequences may be used in vaccines.

[0035] Vectors and host cells comprising nucleic acid molecules according to the invention are also provided. Suitable vectors include plasmids, cosmids and viral vectors. The vectors preferably comprise one or more regulatory sequences, such as promoters, termination and secretory signal sequences to enable to nucleic acid molecule, according to the invention, to be expressed as a protein. Preferably the vector is a retroviral vector, which may be used to infect cells or patients with the nucleic acid. Such retroviral vectors may be used for gene therapy purposes. Adenoviral vectors are especially preferred.

[0036] Suitable host cells include those known in the art including eukaryotic cells, such as mammalian cells, yeast cells and prokaryotic cells such as E-coli, in the art.

[0037] Preferably the nucleic acid molecule is DNA or RNA and preferably comprises naturally occurring nucleotides, for example containing adenine, guanine, thyrnine, cytosine or uracil as bases. Non-naturally occurring nucleotides, for example of the sort known in the art, may also be used.

[0038] The antibodies or fragments of antibodies, according to the invention, may be used to identify compounds capable of competing for the binding of the antibody or fragment thereof to HIV gp120 protein or a fragment thereof. Preferably the gp120 protein is from HIV-1. The fragment of a gp120 protein may comprise a portion of the protein which contains one or both of Ile₄₂₀-Gln₄₂₂ and/or Pro₄₃₇-Pro₄₃₈. The chemical compound is preferably a peptide or a peptoid. In particular, the chemical compound may be a mimotope.

[0039] The mimotopes are preferably peptides that mimic an epitope. The mimotopes may have amino acid sequences that bear no similarity with the amino acid sequence of the original epitope. In particular, the mimotopes may be identified by screening random peptide arrays.

[0040] By peptide, we mean a sequence of amino acids, which may be naturally or non-naturally occurring amino acids, of less than 40 or 35 amino acids, preferably less than 30, less than 25, less than 20, less than 15, especially less than 13 amino acids in length.

[0041] Amino acids are the basic building blocks from which peptides and proteins are constructed. Amino acids possess both an amino group (—NH₂) and a carboxyl group (—COOH). Many amino acids, but not all, have the structure NH₂—CHR—COOH, where R is hydrogen or any of a variety of functional groups. 20 amino acids are naturally genetically coded, however, non-naturally occurring amino acids, such as those known in the art, may be used.

[0042] A peptide is composed of a plurality of amino acid residues joined together by peptidyl (—NHCO—) bonds.

[0043] These may be produced by expression of the nucleic acid molecules of the invention or artificially by chemical synthesis.

[0044] Peptoids are analogues of a peptide in which one or more of the peptide bonds are replaced by pseudopeptide bonds, e.g.:

[0045] Carba ψ (CH₂—CH₂)

[0046] Depsi ψ (CO—O)

[0047] Hydroxyethylene ψ (CHOH—CH₂)

[0048] Ketomethylene ψ (CH—CH₂)

[0049] Methylene-ocy CH₂—O—

[0050] Reduced CH₂—NH

[0051] Thiomethylene CH₂—S—

[0052] Thiopeptide CS—NH

[0053] N-modified —NRCO—

[0054] By epitope we mean an immunologically active region or an immunogen that is capable of binding to the antibody or fragment thereof. Preferably the immunogen is gp120 from HIV, especially HIV-1, or a fragment of such a protein.

[0055] Preferably, random phage display libraries, or other such combinatorial libraries, may be used to identify chemical compounds that can complete for the binding of the antibody or fragment thereof to the HIV gp120 protein or a fragment of the protein.

[0056] The inventors have found a number of peptide sequences which are capable of competing for the binding of the antibody or fragment thereof to HIV gp120 protein.

[0057] The invention also includes chemical compounds identifiable by the methods described above. Preferably the chemical compound is a peptide or peptoid. The peptide may especially be a conformational epitope to one or both of regions Ile₄₂₀-Gln₄₂₂ and/or Pro₄₃₇-Pro₄₃₈ of the gp120 protein. The peptide may comprise an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID 9, SEQ ID10, SEQ ID 11, SEQ ID 12 and SEQ ID 13, or a sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID Nos. 14 to 43, or a sequence shown in Table 1.

[0058] More preferably the peptides may comprise an amino acid sequence as shown in both SEQ ID 9 and SEQ ID 10.

[0059] Nucleic acid molecules encoding the peptides are also provided by the invention.

[0060] The chemical compounds, such as the peptides or peptoids, may be used to produce a vaccine. Nucleic acids, such as DNA, encoding the peptides may also be used as vaccines. These latter vaccines are usually known by the general term “DNA vaccines”. Alternatively the nucleic acid may be within a vector, such as a retroviral vector.

[0061] Preferably the compounds are mixed with one or more adjuvants such as bovine serum albumin, aluminium potassium sulphate, Freund's incomplete adjuvant or Freund's complete adjuvant.

[0062] The vaccine may be administered in a dose of typically 0.01-50 mg/kg., especially 0.1-5 mg/kg. It may be administered by techniques known in the art, including intravenously, intradermally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intraperitoneally.

[0063] The invention also includes within its scope the use of antibodies or fragments according to the invention or compounds according to the invention, for the prevention or treatment of HFV, especially HIV-1, infections. The invention also includes antibodies or fragments thereof, according to the invention, or compounds according to the invention, for use to treat HIV, especially HIV-1, infections.

[0064] The antibodies or fragments according to the invention or compounds according to the invention may be labelled, e.g. with fluorescent compounds, radioactive nucleotides, colloidal metals, bioluminescent compounds and/or enzymes. Such labels are well known in the art. The antibodies or fragments or compounds may then be used to study HIV infections in vivo or in vitro by their ability to bind to gp120 or to inhibit the binding of antibodies, or fragments, to the gp120 protein.

[0065] The antibodies, fragments or chemical compounds may also be used to inhibit the binding of HIV to viral co-receptors. The inventors have noted that the antibodies according to the invention interact with Ile₄₂₀-Ghn₄₂₂ and/or Pro₄₃₇-PrO438 of the gp₁₂₀ protein of HIV. This has been noted by C. Rizzuto and J. Sodroski (2000) as being within a region that is important for binding.

[0066] In a further aspect of the invention the antibodies, fragments or compounds may be used to evaluate AIDS progression and/or the state of infection as a prognosis marker.

[0067] A still further aspect of the invention provides a kit for studying HIV infection, especially HIV-1 infection, in vivo and/or in vitro, comprising an antibody or a fragment, or a compound according to the invention.

[0068] The antibodies, fragments or compounds may be labelled as already indicated.

[0069] A still further aspect of the invention provides a kit for studying the inhibition of the binding of HIV to a co-receptor comprising the use of an antibody, fragment or a compound according to the invention. Preferably the HIV is HIV-1. Preferably the interaction that is inhibited is the interaction between gp 120 and CCR5.

[0070] The invention will now be described by means of example only with reference to the following figures:

[0071]FIG. 1 shows deduced amino acid sequences of gp120, Nef and phylogenetic classification of the HIV-1 cirus isolated from the LTNP donor

[0072] (A) Alignment of deduced amino acid sequences of HIV-1 virus isolated from the LTNP donor. (B) gp120 amino acid sequences were numbered according to the HBX2 viral reference strain. V3 amino acids for NSI M-tropic phenotype are indicated by arrows. Deduced Nef amino acid sequences from the LTNP donor HIV-1 virus. (C) Nef sequences were obtained from proviral DNA from donor samples taken in 1998 and 2000 (JMM98 and JMM00). The location is indicated of the predicted motif for the myristoylization signal, variable region polymorphism sequence, acidic charged region, (PxxP) repeat sequences, putative phosphorylation site (PKC), polypurine tract (PPT), 5′ border of the 3′UTR, beta turn (GPG), and ExxxLL (for CD4-Nef-mediated endosytosis). Phylogenetic classification of the viral isolate from the LTNP donor. The C2-V3-C3 region of LTNP viral sequences was compared with 73 Spanish isolates and reference sequences from several HIV-1 subtypes using the Neighbor-Joing method. Reference B strains (LAI, MN, SF-2, SF-162 and RF) are labelled.

[0073]FIG. 2 shows binding properties of LTNP donor serum and anti-gp120 Fab

[0074] Binding properties of LTNP donor serum IgG (A, left) and IgM (right) to recombinant gp120 III-B, p24, BSA and dsDNA, tested in ELISA. (B) gp120 and BSA binding of donor-derived polyreactive IgM Fab (M025) and high affinity IgG Fabs S8, S19 and S20. (C) Light chain shuffling between polyreactive and specific anti-gp120 Fabs; heavy and light chains from IgM M025, IgG S8 or S20, and an irrelevant Fab against tetanus toxoid (Tet) were combined and the resulting Fab HC/LC pairs tested in ELISA for binding to gp120 and BSA. (D)

[0075] Antigen binding competition between donor serum and Fab S8; Fab S8 (0.05 μg/ml) binding to gp120 III-B (2 μg/ml) was tested in ELISA in the presence of dilutions of total donor serum or human HIV-1-seronegative serum as a control; Fab S8 binding was developed using a PO-conjugated anti-histidine antibody. (E) Donor serum ({fraction (1/200)}) was tested for gp120 E13-B binding in the presence of Fab S8 (0.01-30 μg/ml) or the irrelevant Fab P1; IgG serum binding was developed using a PO-conjugated anti-human IgG Fc.

[0076]FIG. 3 shows HIV-1 neutralisation by human Fab

[0077] (A) Neutralisation of the HIV-1 MN strain by IgM Fabs M02 and M025 and IgG Fabs S8, S19 and S20 determined by plaque assay (NPA) in MT-4 cells. (B) Neutralisation of the T cell-adapted strains LAI, MN, RF and SF-2 by Fab S8 using the infectivity reduction assay (IRA) in MT-2 cells. (C) Neutralisation capacity of Fab S8 determined by quantification of p24 after PBMC infection with X4 (NL4-3) and (D) R5 HIV-1 strain (Bal). (E) Fab S8 in vivo neutralising activity of R5 (Bal) HIV-1 infection in human PBMC-reconstituted SCID mice. SCID mice grafted with adult human PBMC (SCID-hu-PBMC) sensitive to HIV-1 infection were infected 2 weeks after reconstitution with cell-free HIV-1 Bal stocks containing 100 TCID₅₀. Mice were injected i.p. with purified Fab S8 (300 μg/mouse; treated group) or PBS alone (untreated group). Peritoneal cells were recovered after 15 days and co-cultured with PHA-activated PBMC from HIV-1-seronegative individuals. Co-cultures were monitored in ELISA for HIV-1 core antigen in supernatant at days 7 (left) and 14 (right), and were considered positive when p24 was >30 ng/ml.

[0078]FIG. 4 shows gp120 binding of S8 Fab in the presence of sCD4

[0079] Several dilutions of purified Fab S8 were tested in ELISA for binding to gp120 III-B (2 μg/ml) alone, or which had been pre-incubated with a five-fold molar excess of sCD4. Similar results were obtained using Fab S20.

[0080]FIG. 5 shows inhibition by mimopetides of Fab S8 binding to gp120

[0081] Fab S8 binding to gp120 was tested in ELISA in the presence of peptides derived from peptide library panning, 12R1 (A), 12R4 (B), 12R9 (D), an irrelevant peptide (C), and an HIV-1 peptide corresponding to gp120 amino acid sequence 428-439 (E).

[0082]FIG. 6 shows gp120 binding by Fab S8 and S20 HCDR3 mutants

[0083] Arg95 from Fab S8 (A) and S20 (B) HCDR3 was replaced by the amino acids indicated in single letter code. Binding to gp120 and BSA by these Fab mutants, as well as by the unmutated forms and the related polyreactive Fab M025, was then tested in ELISA.

[0084]FIG. 7 shows molecular model for the Fab S8 gp120 epitope

[0085] In A, Top: Reconstruction of the gp120 trimer model reproduction proposed by Kwong et al.; the bound CD4 in shown in gold. The gp120 surface is coloured by domain; inner domain in yellow (amino acids 90-117, 208-255, 474-492), bridging sheet domain in violet (amino acids 118-207, 422-439) and outer domain in red (amino acids 256-396, 410-421, 440-473). The white ball corresponds to the C-alpha of gp120 residue 299, and helps to visualise the V3 loop that is missing in the gp120 core structure. Bottom: Ball-and-stick representation of the proposed Fab S8 conformational epitope. This region mimics the sequence of the linear peptide mimotopes derived from the phage display libraries; this region is well conserved in most gp120 sequences. The figure also shows a saline bridge between Glu381 and Lys207, for which a key role has been suggested in the interdomain relationship. Arg 419, which forms a strong bond with Fab 17b, is also indicated. The position of the Fab S8 conformational epitope overlaps at least two of the residues that form part of the CD4i epitope (Arg419 and Gln422); it is clearly different from the gp120 CD4 binding site, and also differs from the well characterised V3 region.

[0086]FIG. 8 shows the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for the S8, S19 and S20 light chains.

[0087]FIG. 9 shows the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for the S8 heavy chain.

[0088]FIG. 10 shows the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for the S19 heavy chain.

[0089]FIG. 11 shows the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for the S20 heavy chain.

EXAMPLE Materials and Methods

[0090] Long-Term Asymptomatic HIV-1 Seropositive Donor

[0091] HIV-1 seroposivity from patient JMM was detected in 1985. This patient has never treated with antiretroviral agents and has maintained (>15 yr) an asymptomatic state with absolute CD4⁺ counts >800-950/mm³ and low viral 1 load, as measured periodically in PBMC (viral load (bDNA 3.0 Bayer Diagnosys) RNA viral copies/ml) over the last two years: 4367 c/ml on May 1999; 6936 c/ml on October 1999; 5326 c/ml on March 2000 and 7205 c/ml on March 2001).

[0092] Allele Genotype Analysis of the LTNP HIV-1 Donor

[0093] Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from JMM donor using Easy DNA (Invitrogen). Up and downstream oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify the CCR5 gene corresponding to the second extracellular region; their sequences are: 5′-primer: CCTGGCTGTCGTCCATGCTG; 3′-primer: CAAGCAGCGGCAGGACCAGC. Using this primer set, the wild-type CCR5 allele gives rise to a 245 bp polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragment, whereas the deleted allele gives a 213 bp fragment. For each PCR reaction (100 ml), genomic DNA (1 μg) was denatured at 95° C. for 5 min, amplified by 5 PCR cycles (94° C., 45 s; 55° C., 45 s; 72° C., 45 s), followed by an additional 35 cycles (94° C., 45 s; 63° C., 45 s; 72° C., 30 s). The reaction products (25 μl) were separated on a 3% Nusieve GTG agarose gel and DNA bands stained by ethidium bromide. CCR5 PCR fragments were cloned in the pCR 2.1 vector (Invitrogen) and several clones were sequenced automatically.

[0094] The CCR5 promoter region (nucleotides 59013 to 59732; GenBank Acc. No. U9526) was amplified from the genomic DNA donor by PCR as described (McDermott, et al. 1998) using LK84 and LK87 primers. The CCR2b gene corresponding to region 1 to 327 bp was amplified by PCR using the primers CCR2 F3 (5′-ATGCTGTCCACATCTCGTTC-3′) and CCR2 R3 (5′-CCCAAAGACCCACTCATTTG-3′) as described (Smith, et al. 1997). The 3′UTR fragment from the SDF-1β gene (nucleotides 357-1080) was PCR amplified using the primers 5-Sdf TGAGAGGGTCAGACGCCTGAGG and 3-Sdf AGTTTTGGTCCTGAGAGTCC. The PCR fragment products from genes were subcloned in pCR 2.1 (Invitrogen), sequenced automatically and compared in GenBank.

[0095] MT-2 Assay for Determination of Syncytium-Inducing (SI) and NSI Phenotypes.

[0096] The syncytium-inducing (SI) or NSI phenotype was defined by the infection of MT-2 cells as previously describe (Koot et al. 1992). Syncytia are defined as persisting large multinuclear cells with a diameter grater than 3 normal cells diameters. Virus from JMM was grown on PBMC from seronegative donors and titulate. JMM isolate, 1.3×10³ TCID₅₀ (50% tissue culture infective doses) was mixed with MT-2 cells (10×10⁶/ml) and in MT-2 medium (RPMI without IL2) 2 hs at 37° C. After centrifugation (10 min at 15000 rpm) cells were collected and MT-2 medium was added to complete 10 ml. Every week cells were removed and replaced with 5×10⁶ MT-2 cell. Cultures were examined for presence of syncytia and p24 was measure from supernatants at 7, 14 and 30 days. JMM cultures were found negative for p24 and SI phenotype.

[0097] Analysis of HIV-1 gp120 env and Nef Sequences from LTNP Donor Virus

[0098] The gp120 env gene from donor JMM was derived from proviral DNA of PBMC separated by Ficoll centrifugation. The sample was amplified by nested PCR, in the first reaction with primers 128EU (5′-TTAGGCATCTCCTATGGCAGGAAGAAGCGG-3′) and 129ED (5′-GTCTGGGGCATCAAACAGCTCCAGGCAAGA-3′) and in the second PCR with primers 99EU (5′-AGAGCAGAAGACAGTGGC-3′) and 96ED (5′-CGCACAAGACAATAA TTGTCTGGCCTGTACCGT-3′). PCRs were performed in a final volume of 50 ml, in 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.3 with 50 mM KCl, 0.01% gelatin, 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 100 ng of each primer and 2.5 U of Ampli-Taq polymerase (Perkin Elmer-Cetus, Norwalk, Conn.). Amplification conditions were 1 cycle at 94° C., 5 min, 35 cycles at 94° C., 1 min, 55° C. (in the first PCR) or 58° C. (nested PCR), 1 min, and 72° C., 2 min in the second reaction, followed by a final incubation at 72° C. for 10 min. PCR products were cloned in the TA cloning vector (Invitrogen) and eight clones were sequenced automatically. The JMM C2-V3-C3 region was compared with sequences of the C2-V3-C3 fragment of the env gene from several Spanish samples amplified by a nested PCR, as described (Casado, et al., 2000a).

[0099] For nucleotide data analysis, reference strains from subtypes A to H were downloaded from the Los Alamos data base (http://hiv-web.lan.gov). Nucleotide sequences were aligned with Spanish samples (Casado, et al., 2000a) and the JMM sample using the CLUSTALW program (Thompson, et al., 1994) and edited by hand. DNA distance matrices were calculated with the Kimura two-parameter model and used to construct a phylogenetic tree by the Neighbor-Joing method (Felsenstein, 1993). Tree robustness was evaluated by bootstrap analysis on 1000 replicas (Kumar, 1993); TreeView, version 1.5 (Page, 1996) was used to edit the phylogenetic tree. The JMM Nef gene was amplified by PCR from proviral DNA from donor samples taken in 1998 and 2000. Initial round of PCR was performed using primers p211 5′-TAAAGAATAGTGCTGTTAGCTTGCTC-3′ and p163 5′-CTG AGGGATCTCTAG TTACCAGAG-3′ followed by a second reaction with primers nef-205 5′-GCAGTAGCTGAG GGGACAGATAG-3′ and nef-216 5′-GAGCTCCCAGGCTCAGATCTGGTCT-3′. Amplification conditions were 1 cycle (94° C., 5 min; 55° C., 30 sec; 72° C., 1 min) and 35 cycles (94° C., 30 sec; 55° C. 1 min; 72° C., 1 min) followed by a final incubation (72° C., 10 min). PCR products were sequenced automatically.

[0100] HIV-1 Donor Serum and Monoclonal Antibodies

[0101] Serum from the LTNP donor JMM was diluted in PBS and tested for specificity to gp120, p24, and other antigens in ELISA. Wells were coated with gp120 III-B (2 μg/ml), gp41 (2 μg/ml), p24 (2 μg/ml), 3% BSA (Sigma), ssDNA (4 μg/ml), OVA (2 μg/ml), or hGH (human growth hormone, 2 μg/ml), washed, and blocked. Donor serum dilutions were incubated with antigens and developed using peroxidase (PO)-conjugated mouse anti-human Ig and IgG₁ mAb (Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif.). The anti-gp120 human Fabs S19, S8, and S20 and IgM Fabs M02 and M025 were obtained from the isotype IgGl, k and VH3IgM, k antibody phage display libraries constructed from donor JMM PBMC, as reported previously (Torán, et al., 1999). For most experiments, Fabs were purified by Ni—NTA chromatography (Quiagen, Hilden, Germany).

[0102] For inhibition of S8 binding to gp120 by donor serum, wells were coated with gp120 III-B (2 μg/ml), and purified S8 Fab (0.05 μg/ml) was added in the presence of several dilutions of donor serum. Wells were washed and Fab S8 binding to gp120 developed using a PO-conjugated anti-histidine antibody and OPD (Sigma), and read at OD₄₉₂ nm. For inhibition of donor serum binding to gp120 by Fab S8, wells were coated with gp120 III-B as above. Donor serum ({fraction (1/200)}) was added in the presence of Fab S8 (0.01-30 μg/ml) or irrelevant Fab P1 and IgG binding developed with PO-conjugated anti-human IgG Fc and OPD (Sigma).

[0103] Measurement of the Kinetic Parameters of Anti-gp120 Fabs by Surface Plasmon Resonance

[0104] The kinetic binding constant of Fab to gp120 III-B was determined by surface plasmon resonance using a biosensor (BIAcore, Pharmacia Biosensor AB, Uppsala, Sweden). Ligand immobilisation and binding analyses were performed as described. Briefly, gp120 (10-30 μg/ml in 10 mM sodium acetate) was immobilised on a CM5 sensor chip (Pharmacia) through amine groups as recommended by the manufacturer. All immobilisation and interaction experiments were performed using HBS as running buffer (10 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 3.4 mM EDTA, 0.05% BIAcore surfactant P20, pH 7.4) at a constant flow rate of 5 μl/min. (20 μl/min. for the dissociation phase). Subsequently, 100 mM phosphoric acid was used to regenerate the binding surface. Kinetic analyses were performed with purified Fab, at concentrations ranging from 1 to 135 nM in HBS at 25° C. Kinetic rate constants (K_(on) and K_(off)) and the apparent equilibrium affinity constants (K_(a)=K_(on)/K_(off) and K_(d)=K_(off)/K_(on)) were determined using the BIAlogue Kinetic Evaluation Software (Pharmacia Biosensor). As a negative control, anti-tetanus toxoid Fabs were used.

[0105] Light Chain Shuffling of Fab and Fab Heavy Chain CDR3 Mutants

[0106] LC and HC fragments from M025, S20 and S8 heavy and light chains from IgM Fab M025, IgG Fabs S8 or S20, or an irrelevant Fab (Tet) were PCR amplified and cloned sequentially in the H Pcomb3 vector. Soluble Fabs from each resulting HC/LC pair were tested for binding to gp120 Ill-B and BSA in ELISA a s above. Residue 95 was replaced in the heavy chain HCDR3 mutants of Fabs S8 and S20 and M025 by directed PCR mutagenesis. Soluble Fabs from each mutant were tested for binding to gp120 III-B and BSA in ELISA as above.

[0107] HIV-1 Fab Neutralisation

[0108] A neutralisation plaque assay (NPA) was established in MT-4 cells (Harada, et al., 1985) with minor modifications (Sánchez, et al., 1993). Six-well plates (Costar, Calif.) were incubated with 1 ml of poly-L-lysine (50 μg/ml, Sigma) for 60 min at room temperature and washed three times in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7). MT-4 cells (4×10⁶/well) were added and incubated 2 h, after which unbound cells were removed. Neutralisation was performed with 100 plaque-forming units (pfu) of virus and five purified Fabs (S20, S19, S8, M02 and M025) at different concentrations. The virus-antibody mixture was incubated (37° C., 3 h), slowly added to the plates and adsorbed (37° C., 90 min), after which virus was removed and 2 ml of agarose medium (0.2% SeaPlaque agarose in complete RPMI medium) were added. Plates were incubated (37° C., 5% CO₂ atmosphere), and 2 ml of agarose medium were added on day 3. Plaque production was counted with the naked eye on day 7.

[0109] Neutralisation titer was calculated according to the formula % neutralisation=(1−p/n)×100, where p is the amount of virus produced in presence of the corresponding Fab, n is the mean amount of virus produced without Fab, measured by number of plaques in cultures.

[0110] The following viruses were used in neutralisation experiments: HIV1 MN, HIV-1 RF, HIV-1 SF-2, HIV-1 N14-3 and HIV-1 Ba-L.

[0111] The infectivity reduction assay (IRA) was performed using in MT-2 cells. Virus titer of LAI, SF-2, MN and RF strains was determined in MT-2 cells and expressed as TCID₅₀ (50% tissue culture infective doses), calculated by the Spearman-Karber formula. Five 10-fold virus dilutions were mixed with different concentrations of Fabs S20, S19, S8, M02 and M025 and incubated (37° C., 1 h, 5% CO₂), then added to a 96-well microtiter plate containing 10⁵ MT-2 cells/well. Fresh medium (100 μl) was added 4 days later. Cytopathic effect (CPE), characterised by the appearance of giant multinuclear cells, was quantified on day 7. Six replicate wells were made for each dilution. Neutralisation was calculated by the formula % neutralisation=(1−p/n)×100, where p is the mean titer in TCID₅₀/ml of virus produced in cultures incubated with the correspondent mixture and n is the mean titer of virus produced in cultures incubated without Fabs. Each titer point is the mean of two individual experiments.

[0112] PBMC obtained from the patient in 1996 were cocultured with HIV-1-seronegative PBMC which had been stimulated for 3 days with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Coculture was maintained in medium with interleukin-2 (IL-2) for at least 40 days (37° C., 5% CO₂). Fresh PBMC were added each week and p24 antigen production was monitored every 7 days. Supernatant was harvested and characterised by TCID_(50%) on stimulated PBMC. Supernatant (1 ml) from the coculture (1.3×10³ TCID₅₀%) was inoculated in 10×10⁶ PBMC. After incubation (1 h, 37° C.), cells were centrifugated and 10 ml of RPMI with IL-2 were added. Virus was grown and harvested. This first-passage virus stock was used to perform the IRA in PBMC. Four 4-fold viral stock dilutions were incubated with several concentrations of Fab S8 (1 h, 37° C.) and added to 2×10⁵ PBMC. Medium with IL-2 was changed twice a week. After 14 days, the p24 assay was performed and TCID_(50%) calculated. Neutralisation titer was calculated according to the formula given above.

[0113] For Fab S8 neutralisation of HIV-1 viruses Bal and NL4-3, PBMC from an uninfected donor were activated with PHA (10 ng/ml, 48 h, 37° C., 5% CO₂); after washing, cells were incubated with Bal or NL4-3 viral stock (2 ng/10⁶ per assay, 30 min, 37° C.), alone or with purified Fab (0.05 at 10 μg/ml) in complete RPMI 1640 medium containing rhIL-2 (10 ng/ml). Excess virus and Fab were removed by washing, and PBMC incubated in complete RPMI 1640 at 37° C. Every two days after infection, half the culture supernatant (500 μl) was removed and replaced with fresh medium containing rhIL-2 and Fabs at the above concentration. Cell-free supernatants were tested for HIV-1 p24 antigen on day 7 using a commercial ELISA test (Coulter, Miami, Fla.). The percentage of neutralisation was calculated as the ratio between p24 levels for test samples alone or with Fabs. Irrelevant HmFab P1 (10 μg/ml) was used as a negative control.

[0114] SCID Mouse Reconstitution and HIV-1 Viral Challenge

[0115] CB.17 SCID/SCID mice were bred and maintained under specific pathogen-free conditions in the Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia animal facility. Eight- to 10-week-old non-leaky phenotype mice were reconstituted by i.p. injection of 20×10⁶ freshly isolated normal human PBMC. Four hours before viral challenge and for the next two days, mice were injected i.p. with purified Fab S8 (100 μg/mouse) in PBS or with PBS alone. Mice were infected 2 weeks after PBMC reconstitution by i.p. injection of 0.5 ml of diluted cell-free HIV-1 Bal stocks containing 100 TCID₅₀. Two weeks after viral challenge, mice were killed by cervical dislocation and peritoneal cells obtained by washing with ice cold PBS. Cells (1×10⁶) were incubated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated PBMC (1×10⁶) from HIV-1-seronegative donors, in RPMI 1640 with 10% heat-inactivated FCS and recombinant IL-2 (10 ng/ml). Co-cultures were monitored by ELISA for HIV-1 core antigen in supernatant on days 7 and 14, and were considered positive when p24 was >30 ng/ml.

[0116] Selection of Fab S8-Binding Peptides from Peptide Phage Display Libraries

[0117] Peptide phage display libraries Ph.D.-7, Ph.D.-C7C and Ph.D.-12 were purchased from New England BioLabs. F or panning selection of peptide-binding phages, microtiter wells were coated (4° C., overnight) with 50 μl of purified Fab S8 (1 μg/ml in PBS), washed three times with water, and blocked with 3% BSA in PBS (37° C., 1 h). To reduce non-specific phage peptide binding, peptide phage display libraries were previously incubated with human F(ab)₂ with 0.5% BSA (37° C., 1 h). For each selection round, wells were filled with 50 μl of the corresponding library (2×10¹¹ pfu) and incubated (37° C., 2 h), washed vigorously several times with PBST (PBS/0.05% Tween 20), binding phages eluted with glycine-HCl, pH 2.5 and BSA (1 mg/ml), and rapidly neutralised with 1 M Tris-HCl. Samples of eluted phages were titrated according to manufacturer's instructions. Eluted phages were amplified in E. coli ER2537, PEG concentrated, and used for the next selection round. For identification of phage peptide binding clones, independent blue phage plaques from selection rounds were randomly picked, amplified, and their DNA prepared and sequenced automatically. Additional panning rounds were performed under similar conditions. As a control, phagemid binding background was titrated in the last rounds of panning as above, except that Fab S8 was omitted.

[0118] Peptide Inhibition of gp120-Fab Binding

[0119] Peptides from selected phage clones were synthesised by Isogen (Maarssen, The Netherlands). For binding competition experiments, purified S8 Fab (1 μg/ml) was incubated (4° C., 4 h) with several dilutions of the corresponding peptide before addition to gp120 III-B (2 μg/ml)-coated microtiter wells. Wells were incubated (37° C., 1 h), washed with PBST, and Fab S8 binding to gp120 was developed with PO-conjugated goat anti-human F(ab)′₂ (Pierce) and OPD.

[0120] Molecular Modelling

[0121] Structural and solvent accessibility were analysed with WhatIf (Vriend, 1990) and Grasp (Nicholls, et al., 1991). Figures were rendered with Insight II (v. 98.0, Molecular Simulations). The structures used for analysis were obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) data base (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/). The structures used for analysis, 1GC1, 1G9N and 1G9M (Kwong, et al., 2001; Kwong, et al., 1998), were obtained from the Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/). The trimer model was generated by manual fitting based on the model proposed by Kwong et al. (Kwong, et al., 2000). For variability gp120 surface mapping, gp120 sequence alignment was obtained from the Pfam database (Bateman et al. 2000). For more details about alignment and the set of gp120 HIV-1 sequence used, see web page information (below). Figure was draw with Insight II Version 98.0 Molecular Modelling System. Additional figures and information are available at: “http://www.cnb.uam.es/˜cnbprot/S20/”.

[0122] Results

[0123] Allele Genotype and Phylogenetic Analysis of the LTNP Donor and HIV-1 Virus

[0124] The donor (JMM) analysed in this study is an untreated HIV-1 seropositive LTNP individual (>15 yr HIV-1 infection at study); he has maintained normal CD4 counts and a low viral load to the present (see Methods). To determine whether chemokine receptors or chemokine ligand gene alleles associated with AIDS delay are present, extensive DNA genotype analysis was performed, including CCR5 and CCR2b chemokine receptors, CCR5 promoter, and the 3′UTR SDF-1β chemokine. The analysis reveals non-mutant alleles for CCR5, CCR2 chemokinereceptors, CCR5 gene promoter and the 3′UTR of SDF-1β, indicating that the LTNP donor phenotype is not due to known genetic factors associated with a delay in ADDS development.

[0125] The inventors next identified the HIV-1 viral strain in this individual. Donor PBMC were obtained and used to isolate proviral DNA by PCR. The env gene was amplified from pioviral DNA and cloned. gp120 was fully sequenced from several independent clones; the derived amino acid sequences are shown (FIG. 1A). gp120 sequence variation of 3.02% was found among the clones analysed. This level of genetic variation is similar to that found in patients (Myers, et al., 1992). The maximum distance between quasi-species members was 6.07% (between clones 50-10 and 50-9), and the minimum distance was 0.2% (between clones 50-3 and 50-1). Two of the clones that displayed deletions in the V1 loop also had a glycosylation site at position 299, like that found at position 289 in the LAI clone HXB2. A new glycosylation site, not present in HXB2, was found at position 409 in three members of the quasi-species (FIG. 1A). Primary isolate virus from the LTNP donor was obtained by passage on PBMC from healthy seronegative individuals. The virus failed to grow and form syncytia in MT-2 cells. In addition, analysis of gp120 V3 region from several donor viral clones isolated show NSI/M:-tropic amino acid (S³⁰⁶ and E³²⁰) markers (De Jong, et al., 1992; Connor et al 1997; Shankarappa, et al., 1999), concurring with the NSI viral phenotype observed.

[0126] The LTNP HIV-1 Nef gene was amplified from donor proviral DNA at two study points and fully sequenced; derived amino acid sequences are shown (FIG. 1B). Low (less than 1%) variation between samples was observed, and no deletions or frameshifts resulting in premature stop codons of Nef were found. In addition, all predicted functional Nef motifs were conserved in LTNP virus. To study the phylogenetic classification of the LTNP isolate, we compared its gp120 sequences with those of 73 Spanish isolates (Casado, et al., 2000) and reference sequences from several HIV-1 subtypes (Myers, et al., 1992). The analysis was carried out in the gp120 C2-V3-C3 region by the Neighbor-Joing method (Felsenstein, 1993); the resulting tree is shown in FIG. 1C. The LTNP isolate was included in the B clade, along with Spanish and reference B strains (LAM, MN, SF-2, SF-162 and RF) with a high bootstrap value.

[0127] Antibody Response to HIV-1 gp120

[0128] Donor JMM serum IgM and IgG binding to gp120 and p24 was analysed in ELISA; high IgM and IgG titers to both antigens were found (FIG. 2A). We previously reported isolation of a panel of IgM and IgG, anti-gp120 Fabs by gp120 biopanning from two antibody isotype phage display libraries (corresponding to the IgM and IgG repertoires) constructed from this donor (Torán, et al., 1990). In these experiments, we found that the IgM Fabs bind to gp120 with low affinity and react to several antigens, whereas IgG Fabs retrieved were specific, with high affinity (Kd, 2.2×10⁻⁹ to 9.5×10⁻¹⁰ M) for gp120 (FIG. 2B). Analysis of IgM Fab VH genes showed use of a variety of germ line genes, most unmutated. In contrast, all the IgG Fabs isolated were derived from a single VH3 germ line gene (DP50), showed evidence of extensive somatic mutation, and HCDR3 analysis indicated common clonal origin. The IgG Fabs nonetheless had different affinity constants for gp120 III-B, as measured in BIAcore. These affinity differences are due to amino acid changes in their FR1 and HCDR1 regions, originated by somatic mutation, which led to a 10-fold increase in affinity for gp120 (Torán, et al., 2001). The relationship between these two isotypes from this donor was shown by VH and HCDR3 analysis of IgM and IgG Fabs coded by the VH DP50 gene, and suggest that one IgG Fab, S8, arose from IgM Fab M025.

[0129] Although the VH from these two Fabs have common somatic mutations and differ mainly in the HCDR3 regions, light chain (LC) molecular analysis of Fabs S8 and M025 showed different HC/LC pairings. The original B cell HC/LC pairing can be lost using the combinatorial approach of the donor k LC repertoire with the different HC (IgM and IgG) repertoires; nonetheless, it is known that most antibodies retain their specificity when a particular HC is paired with different LC (Collet, et al., 1992). We thus analysed the binding properties of each HC/LC pair in both Fabs by interchanging the LC from Fabs S8 and M025, and tested gp120 binding by these combinations in ELISA. The results show that Fab S8 gp120 specificity was unaffected by pairing its HC with LC from M025 or from an irrelevant Fab (Tet) (FIG. 2C). Moreover, combination of Fab M025 HC with Fab S8 LC did not modify the polyreactivity observed for M025. All data thus indicate that the LC have a minor role in antigen recognition, and that antigen binding specificity differences are governed by the heavy chains in these Fab.

[0130] Fab S8 specificity representation in the donor antibody repertoire was demonstrated in ELISA by gp120-Fab binding inhibition by total donor serum collected at same time as the PBL used to construct the combinatorial libraries (FIG. 2D). In addition, gp120 binding of serum IgG was inhibited by the S8 Fab (FIG. 2E). This shows that gp120 antibody specificities selected using the antibody phage display approach are represented in the donor humoral response to HIV-1 gp120.

[0131] Taken together the data indicate that, as for other humoral responses, HIV-1 elicited a polyreactive primary IgM response and a high affinity IgG response to gp120 in this LTNP. Maturation of the primary antibody response included accumulation of VH and CDR3 somatic mutation and isotype switching, resulting in a specificity change (from polyreactive to specific antibodies) associated with affinity increase (100-fold) for gp120, as illustrated by the IgG Fab.

[0132] Kinetic Parameters of the Anti-gp120 Fabs Measured by Surface Plasmon Resonance

[0133] The results for each Fab are shown below: Fab K_(on)(M⁻¹s⁻¹) K_(off)(s⁻¹) Ka(M⁻¹) Kd(M) S19 4.8 10⁴ 4.0 10⁻⁴ 1.2 10⁸ 8.3 10⁻⁹ S8 5.4 10⁴ 1.2 10⁻⁴ 4.5 10⁸ 2.2 10⁻⁹ S20 19.0 10⁴  1.8 10⁻⁴ 10.5 10⁸  9.5 10⁻¹⁰

[0134] HIV-1 Neutralisation by the Human Anti-gp120 Fabs

[0135] The HIV-1 (MN strain) neutralisation capacity of purified Fabs was determined by NPA in MT-4 cells (FIG. 3A). Distinct patterns were observed in this assay, depending on the Fab concentration required for 100% neutralisation. Fab S20 reached 100% neutralisation at the lowest concentration (1 μg/ml). Fab S8 showed 100% neutralisation at 10 μg/ml; for Fab S19, 92% neutralisation was observed at 20 μg/ml. The IgM Fabs (M02 and M025) derived from the same DP50 gern line gene as Fabs S8, S19 and S20 had similar neutralisation patterns, with 90% neutralisation at 10 μg/ml. At 20 μg/ml, all Fabs display 90% neutralisation.

[0136] Fab S8 was selected to study neutralisation against different T cell-adapted (TCA) strains (LAI, MN, RF and SF-2), using the IRA in MT-2 cells (FIG. 3B). Several Fab S8 concentrations were used to neutralise five 10-fold dilutions of each virus. Fab S8 neutralised all TCA strains tested, although the neutralising concentration varied among strains. At 1 μg/ml of Fab S8, only SF-2, MN and RF were 50% neutralised. At 10 μg/ml, neutralisation values for MN, SF-2 and RF were greater than 90%, whereas the HIV-1 LAI strain was poorly neutralised at the same Fab concentration. The donor virus isolate was neutralised using an IRA assay in PBMC; at 25 μg/ml of Fab, 32% neutralisation was observed. Fab S8 neutralisation capacity was also determined by quantification of p24 after PBMC infection with the HIV-1 X4 (NL4-3) and R5 (Bal) strains (FIGS. 3C, D). In this assay, 50% neutralisation of NL4-3 and Bal was observed with less than 0.1 μg/ml of Fab S8.

[0137] They extended the in vitro neutralisation results of Fab S8 to in vivo R5 (Bal) strain infection in SCID mice reconstituted with human PBMC. Human PBL-grafted SCID mice (SCID-hu-PBMC) are sensitive to HIV-1 infection; they consequently undergo loss of human CD4+ T lymphocytes, making them suitable to study the mechanisms of HIV-1 pathogenesis and potential therapeutic treatments (Mosier, 1996). SCID-hu-PBMC mice were injected with 100 μg purified Fab S8 or PBS before infection with 100 TCID₅₀ of HIV-1 Bal. After viral infection, two additional doses of Fab S8 were administered. Mice were sacrificed after 15 days, peritoneal cells recovered and co-cultured with PHA-activated human PBMC. HIV-1 p24 from co-culture supernatants was measured on days 7 and 14 using a commercial kit. p24 was undetectable in 100% of Fab-treated mice on day 7, and in seven of eight on day 14, while 41% of control mice showed high p24 levels (FIG. 3E). The data indicate that Fab S8 also has in vivo neutralising activity for the M-tropic R5 HIV-1 Bal strain in SCID-hu-PBMC mice.

[0138] Characterisation of HIV-1 gp120 Epitope Recognised by Neutralising IgG Fabs

[0139] Using phage display, other groups have reported the isolation of recombinant Fabs directed to the gp120-CD4 binding site. Competition for Fab S8-gp120 binding by soluble CD4 (sCD4) does not reduce Fab binding to antigen (not shown). Nonetheless, preincubation of gp120 with CD4 shows a 30% increase in Fab binding to gp120 as measured by ELISA (FIG. 4). These results indicate that the gp120 epitope recognised by the Fab is probably better exposed following interaction with CD4. Nonetheless, this increase in Fab-gp120 binding is less pronounced than that reported for CD4i antibodies (17b and 48d), which only bind to gp120 in the presence of sCD4 (Sullivan, et al., 1998; Thali, et al., 1993).

[0140] Several approaches were used to characterise the gp120 epitope that recognises the IgG Fabs isolated from donor JMM. A collection of overlapping 20-mer peptides corresponding to the gp120 III-B (LAI) amino acid sequence was prepared on cellulose, and epitope mapping performed using purified Fab S8 and goat anti-human antibody. A non-unique peptide motif corresponding to the primary sequence was identified, suggesting a conformational gp120 epitope (not shown). We then used a set of peptide phage display libraries to map the Fab-gp120 epitope. Phage clones binding to Fab S8 were identified by reacting three different peptide phage libraries, Ph.D.-C12 (12 amino acids), Ph.D.-C7 (seven amino acids) and Ph.D.-C7C (seven cycled amino acids), with the Fab. After four panning selection rounds, significant phage enrichment was found in libraries Ph.D.-C12 and Ph.D.-C7C. DNA from eluted individual phage clones, corresponding to each selection round, were sequenced to deduce peptide amino acid sequence (Table 1).

[0141] Using the Ph.D.-C12 library, eight independent peptide sequences were identified from the last selection round. Eleven phage clones analysed were unique and shared the same nucleotide and peptide sequence displayed by clone c124R4 (LLADTTHHRPWT). Peptide phage clones c124R9 (GIQLANPPRLYG) and c124R1 (FLQPPDFSHLPP) were found four and two times, respectively, whereas the other phage clones were found once each. In addition, peptide phage clones c124R4 and c124R9 were also found within the phage clones analysed from the second and third selection rounds.

[0142] All independent clones retrieved from the last selection round of the Ph.D.-C7C library had distinct peptide sequences, and a non-consensus motif was identified. After four rounds of Fab S8 selection, library Ph.D.-C7 rendered phages displaying different peptide sequences, although clone c72R4 (SAMEAPP) showed a similar sequence motif to clone c124R9 from library Ph.D.-C12.

[0143] Although no evident consensus amino acid motif was found in all peptide phage clones, most peptides had two consecutive proline residues. Peptides from clones c124R9 (GIQLANP PRLYG), c124R4 (LLADTTHHPPWT), c124R1 (FLQPPDFSHLPP) and peptide ENV-9 (QEVGKAMYAPPI) corresponding to amino acid residues 428-439 from the gp120 with which 124R9 peptide and c72R4 can be aligned, were synthesised and tested in ELISA for inhibition of Fab S8 binding to gp120. Peptides 124R4 and 124R9 showed 50% inhibition of Fab S8-gp20 binding at 50 g/ml, whereas peptide 124R1 showed only 15% at a similar concentration (FIG. 5). Moreover, peptide ENV-9 showed 50% inhibition of Fab S8-gp120 binding. An unrelated negative control peptide showed no Fab S8-gp120 binding inhibition activity.

[0144] Structural Analysis of the Conformational Fab-gp120 Epitope Interactions

[0145] The importance of the HCDR3 region in Ab-Ag binding has been reported (Morea, et al., 1997); amino acid residues from this region are frequently responsible for Ab-Ag interactions. For the HIV-1 neutralising IgG Fabs S8, S19 and S20, a molecular model for their heavy chains suggest a key role for the HCDR3 loop in contacting antigen (Torán, et al., 1999). IgG from the high affinity neutralizing Fabs S8, S19 and S20 have a charged amino acid residue (Arg) at position 95 in the HCDR3 loop, whereas the polyreactive IgM Fab M025 has a Thr at this position, suggesting that the presence of Arg95 in HCDR3 has a fundamental role in antigen specificity and binding. The key role of this residue in IgG Fabs was analysed by generation of Arg95 Fab mutants and determination of their gp120 binding properties in ELISA. Results show that replacement of Arg95 by Asp, Pro or Gly abolished Fab binding to gp120; replacement by an amino acid of similar charge (Lys) in mutant Fabs S895K or S2095K showed no change in gp120 specificity (FIG. 6). In contrast, Fabs in which Arg95 was replaced by Trp, Met or Thr (the last is the equivalent residue in Fab M025) showed reduced binding and change in gp120 specificity. TABLE I Deduced amino acid sequences of phage clones retrieved after S8 Fab panning of peptide phage display libraries Selection round 1 2 3 4 Peptide sequence * 1r1 SGLDGMHVNSPW (1) 2r1 HTKCSDASCPLI (1) 3r1 SAKPSYQPYAQP (1) 4r1 FLQPPDFSHLPP (2) 1r2 FPASMPGLLLRV (1) 2r3 HGHPLKTNTHRS (1) 3r2 LLADTTHHRPWT (1) 4r3 TAMNLGPALFRT (1) 1r3 QVMRMMPNGVYC (1) 2r4 MPNPRQNPPPPL (1) 3r3 HIETLLPAPELS (1) 4r4 LLADTTHHRPWT (11) 1r4 QDRALITPLDQT (1) 2r5 NFQTPDRTQSNL (1) 3r4 KAPIPSSIPGFR (1) 4r5 WFKPPQTPLTLM (1) 1r5 HDEFVWISIWEP (1) 2r6 FYTPTMHSYGIQ (1) 3r5 GTTQNAMSLARL (1) 4r9 GIQLANPPRLYG (4) 1r6 WTTNFADPPSST (1) 2r7 SVSPNMRMLHWW (1) 3r6 QPTTPFFDWDTH (1) 4r10 TMQPYKSWWSSK (1) 1r7 SSCAAFWSKARP (1) 2r8 GIQLANPPRLYG (1) 3r7 HASTPSSPWSRP (1) 4r15 ADVMLHSKHVQM (1) 1r8 CLSSNSSPPPRP (1) 2r9 TTGDHRAFWLGG (1) 3r9 MQSQLYRDSPRG (1) 4r17 SASTPSSPWSRP (1) 1r9 HTRVLPSTAMTL (1) 2r10 NYFQQPPERHSS (1) 3r10 LPNATKLAPISP (1) 4c7 SAMEAPP ^(φ) (2) 1r10 LFQKQIESPWRS (1) EN-9 QEVGKAMYAPPI^(∀)

[0146] To analyse the gp120 epitope structure recognised by Fab S8, we compared peptide sequences derived from peptide phages with the amino acid sequence of several HIV-1 envelopes, including gp120 from donor JMM using Clustal W (Thompson, et al., 1994). Partial similarity was found around the two consecutive prolines in some peptides and gp120, probably reflecting the random nature of phage peptide display, in which specific amino acid residues can mimic the true antigen epitope. Based on the gp120 core structure, we searched manually for conformational surface sequences corresponding to Fab S8-binding peptides. Only peptides 124R9 (GIQLANPPRLYG) and 124R1 (FLQPPDFSHLPP) result in a conformational epitope, and align at residues 420-422 and 437-439 with two gp120 regions (FIG. 7A), thus sharing amino acids with the gp120-CCR5 binding region (Rizzuto and Sodroski, 2000). Amino acid variability of Fab S8 epitope was analysed by alignment of a large number of HIV-1 gp120 sequences (including sequences from M and T tropic virus) from Pfam (Protein families database; Bateman et al. 2000). Variability was calculated from a 99% non-redundant gp120 alignment (without gp120 fragments) using the McLachlan matrix (McLachlan, 1971), and mapped over the gp120 core structure surface (Kwong, et al., 1998). Amino acids Ile420, Gln422, Pro437 and Pro438, which compose the S8 Fab epitope, showed low variability, indicating a high degree of conservation in most HIV-1 viruses (FIG. 7b).

[0147] Considering these data and the mutagenesis experiment results for Fab S8 Arg95, the inventors searched for charged amino acid residues (Asp or Glu) near the putative gp120 Fab epitope and found only Glu381 as a candidate for establishing an electrostatic interaction with Arg95 in the HCDR3 loop of Fab. In addition, we found that Glu381 was conserved in HIV-1 viruses (see web page). Previous observations indicate that Glu381 and Lys207 form a salt bridge between the inner and outer domains of CD4-bound gp120 (Rizzuto and Sodroski, 2000). Furthermore, changes in Glu381 or Lys207 abrogate CCR5 binding, demonstrating the importance of these residues in gp120 interdomain relationships and correceptor binding. A hypothetical interaction between Arg95 from the Fab S8 HCDR3 loop and Glu381 in gp120 could thus break an inaccessible high energy saline bond (Hendsch and Tidor, 1994; Sindelar, et al., 1998), resulting in a change in gp120 inner-outer interdomain relationships.

[0148] Discussion

[0149] Among HIV-1 infected persons, long-term non-progressor (LTNP) comprise a reduced group of infected individuals who tolerate infection without immune suppression for >10 years in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. These individuals manifest a potent humoral response able to neutralize in vitro several HIV-1 isolates, providing an opportunity to study the role of the humoral response developed as consequence of natural HIV-1 infection. Although the role of the antibodies in protective immunity against HIV-1 is not known, data indicate that discontinuous envelope epitopes, rather than linear epitopes, may be the targets of efficient neutralizing antibodies. Conformational epitope-directed antibodies are the majority of anti-HIV-1 glycoprotein antibodies in HIV-1-infected individuals. This type of antibody has been not detected in vaccinated volunteers, in whom immunogens elicit antibodies to linear epitopes with diverse specificities, which neutralise TCLA viruses (Mascola, et al., 1996), but not primary isolates (Beddows, et al., 1999; Loomis, et al., 1995). Specific high affinity human antibodies against conformational epitopes can be obtained using the antibody phage display approach, which also permits analysis of the human antibody repertoire developed as a consequence of natural infection. We previously constructed two antibody phage display isotype (IgM and IgG) libraries from an HIV-1-infected LTNP (>15 yr) donor (Torán, et al., 1999). From these libraries, several Fabs were selected by gp120 antigen panning; IgG Fabs retrieved were of high affinity and gp120-specific, whereas IgM Fabs were of low affinity and polyreactive.

[0150] Here the inventors have extended these results, have performed an exhaustive analysis of chemokine genes associated with AIDS delay, and have characterised the LTNP HIV-1 virus. DNA genotyping of the donor shows no alleles related to the principal human genes reported to produce a delay in AIDS development (O'Brien and Moore, 2000), indicating that the phenotype of this LTNP donor is not due to such genetic factors. The donor virus isolate was classified as NSI, based on its phenotype in MT-2 cells. Analysis of gp120 showed non-significant sequence variation, indicating a homogeneous HIV-1 virus isolate, and that the V3 region from gp120 had M-tropic amino acid markers that correlate with the NSI phenotype observed. No defective Nef gene alleles from the LTNP virus were found. Phylogenetic classification showed that this LTNP HIV-1 isolate belongs to clade B, the predominant subtype in Spain (Casado, et al., 2000a, b).

[0151] To extend the analysis of the primary (IgM) and secondary (IgG) antibodies obtained from the donor, high affinity anti-gp120 IgG Fabs were characterised extensively. IgG Fab binding properties can attributed principally to the heavy chains. Our results indicate a minor role for light chains in IgG Fab S8 and S20 binding and specificity properties; a combination of the S8 heavy chain with the light chain from a clonally related polyreactive IgM Fab (M025) or an unrelated non-specific Fab had no effect on Fab S8 gp120 binding and specificity. Although the original heavy and light chain pairing can be lost during generation of the antibody library using the combinatorial approach, we observed that IgG Fab S8 and serum from the LTNP donor were able to compete for gp120 binding. These data indicate that Fab S8 anti-gp120 specificities retrieved from the library are well represented in donor serum and are not new antibody specificities generated by the randomness of the approach (Persson, et al., 1991). This also confirms the utility of the antibody display method to study the humoral immune response repertoire (Barbas, et al., 1993; Ditzel, et al., 1997).

[0152] Compared with IgG Fab, all IgM Fabs selected from the donor were polyreactive, with low affinity for gp120. One polyreactive IgM Fab (M025) derived from the same germline gene as that coding for IgG Fab S8 shared common VH nucleotide sequences, with amino acid changes caused by identical somatic mutations. HCDR3 similarities also suggested a relationship between these two Fabs. H ere we show that the HCDR3 amino acid residue differences between these two Fabs play a significant role in Fab gp120 specificity and affinity. Results indicate that replacement of HCDR3 Arg95 by Asp, Pro or Gly abolished Fab S8 binding to gp120; moreover, Arg95 replacement by Trp, Met or Thr (this last is the native residue in Fab M025) results in gp120 binding and specificity changes. These findings concur with recent experiments using a transgenic mouse model with a limited V region but full CDR3 diversity. Results from these studies showed that HCDR3 diversity was sufficient for most antibody specificities, and that somatic mutation allows achievement of surprisingly high antibody affinities.

[0153] All DP50-derived Fabs (IgM and IgG) isolated from this donor were able to neutralise the laboratory HIV-1 strain MN. Fab S8 neutralisation capacity was also tested using several methods and HIV-1 strains; this Fab neutralised X4 HIV-1 strains MN, RF, SF-2, III-B and NL4-3, as well as the R5 Bal strain. Moreover, Fab S8 neutralized M-tropic Bal infection in vivo in human PBMC-reconstituted SCID mice. These data indicate that anti-gp120 Fab S8 isolated from the LTNP donor is a potent in vitro and in vivo inhibitor of HIV-1 infectivity.

[0154] To further characterise Fab S8, we mapped the gp120 epitope using several methods. Previous experiments using gp120 overlapping peptides epitope suggests that Fab S8 recognises a non-linear epitope. We then used a set of random peptide phage libraries as an alternative tool to map the S8 epitope (Boots, et al., 1997; Ferrer and Harrison, 1999; Ferrer, et al., 1999; Schellekens, et al., 1994; Scott and Smith, 1990; Yip and Ward, 1999). Most phages retrieved after panning with S8 Fab had peptides with a motif of two consecutive prolines. Peptides from the most frequently selected phages were chosen, synthesized and tested for S8-gp120 binding competition. Our results indicate that peptides 124R1, 124R9 and 124R4 showed significant inhibition of S8-gp120 binding. In addition, peptide ENV-9, corresponding to gp120 amino acid residues 428-439 and chosen for similarity to 124R9 and to 72R4 (a peptide derived from phage clone c72R4 by panning of peptide library Ph.D.-C7), also inhibited Fab S8-gp120 binding. Alignment of candidate peptides with the amino acid sequence of several HIV-1 envelopes, including donor gp120, as well as peptides 124R9 and 124R1, showed only partial similarity around the two consecutive gp120 prolines (Pro437 and Pro438). These two prolines were recently described as key residues implicated in the gp120 coreceptor binding site (Rizzuto and Sodroski, 2000).

[0155] To study the Fab S8 epitope in detail, we used molecular modelling to search for conformational gp120 core structure-based surface sequences that correspond to the Fab S8 binding peptides. Our model predicts that peptides 124R9 and 124R1 can result in a conformational epitope that aligns with two gp120 regions at residues 420-422 and 437-439. Amino acids from these regions (Ile420, Lys421, Gln422, Pro438) have been described as components of the gp120-CCR5 binding region. Mutagenesis experiments indicate that modification of these residues, as well as of Gly441, had specific consequences on CCR5 binding, with little effect on binding to CD4 (Rizzuto and Sodroski, 2000); monoclonal antibodies 17b and 48d are also reported to bind amino acids in this region (Thali, et al., 1993). These Ab bind gp120 and neutralize HIV-1 efficiently (Salzwedel, et al., 2000) only in the presence of CD4, defining an inducible CD4 (CD4i) epitope on gp120 (Sullivan, et al., 1998; Thali, et al., 1993).

[0156] The results suggest that certain gp120 amino acids recognized by Fab S8 are shared with those recognized by mAb 17b, although compared to 17b, we observed little CD4 dependence on Fab S8 binding to gp120 (soluble CD4 previously bound to gp120 increased Fab-gp120 binding by only 30%). The Fab S8 epitope is thus defined as CD4i-like (CD4il). Differences between epitopes 17b-CD4i (Sullivan, et al., 1998) and S8-CD4il may be due to a) the 17b-CD4i epitope, in contrast to S8-CD41i, may be present as a consequence of dramatic conformational changes after CD4 binding to gp120, b) in the absence of CD4 binding, the gp120 V3 region may mask the 17b-CD4i epitope better that the S8-CD4il epitope, or c) a combination of these processes.

[0157] The inventor's model suggests that S8 Fab may bind to two gp120 regions, Ile420-Gln422 and Pro437-Pro438, located in different chains of the gp120 structure that form part of the bridging sheet minidomain. The importance of HCDR3 in the Ab-Ag interaction has been described (Morea, et al., 1997). Results from mutagenesis of Arg95 in the HCDR3 confirm our previous model showing that this HCDR3 residue is fundamental in Fab S8 binding of gp120 (Torán, et al., 1999). In light of these results, they searched the putative gp120 epitope for amino acid residues able to interact with the Fab S8 HCDR3 loop, and found Glu381 as the only candidate to establish an electrostatic interaction with Arg95. Glu381 interaction with Lys207 forms a salt bridge between the inner and outer gp120 domains (Rizzuto and Sodroski, 2000); changes in Glu381 or Lys207 abrogate CCR5 binding, indicating the importance of this interdomain relationship for interaction with the coreceptor (Rizzuto, et al., 1998). A hypothetical interaction between Arg95 in the Fab S8 HCDR3 loop and Glu381 in gp120 may thus result in relevant changes in the gp120 inner-outer interdomain relationships.

[0158] Finally, the inventors analyzed Fab S8 epitope variability from a large non-redundant alignment of gp120 amino acids. Their results indicate low variability for amino acids Glu381, Ile420, Gln422, Pro437, and Pro438, indicating a high degree of conservation for the S8 epitope among HIV-1 viruses. Although the HIV-1 strain specificity for chemokine co-receptors is complex, CCR5 and CXCR4 specificity is proposed to reside in the V3 variable loop of HIV-1 gp120, as a single amino acid replacement in this loop alters viral tropism (Hu, et al., 2000). Our results suggest that the epitope recognized by Fab S8 is not V3 region-dependent. This Fab neutralized both X4 and R5 HIV-1 strains, supporting the implication of a common gp120 region in chemokine co-receptor interaction. Recent structural data show that the neutralizing face on gp120 occupies a reduced area on the molecule (Wyatt, et al., 1998). Most of the potent cross-clade neutralizing mAb described (b12, 2G12 and 2F5) (Burton, et al., 1994; Muster, et al., 1993; Trkola, et al., 1996) are directed against conformational epitopes, although these specificities are rarely induced. The Fab S8 epitope was found to be accessible on the molecule surface and conserved in most HIV-1 viruses. Interestingly, Fab S8 heavy chain is encoded by the VH3 family, a VH Ig family found to decrease in most HIV-1-infected individuals who progress to AIDS (Juompan, et al., 1998). These antibody specificities may be an important factor contributing to the healthy state, and further experiments are needed to analyze the extent of S8 epitope specificity in HIV-1-infected persons. In addition, human Fab S8 could be included in antibody strategies to combat HIV-1 infection. The peptide described here, derived from the mapping of this human Fab, may contribute to understanding gp120-co-receptor interactions and development of new strategies to combat AIDS.

[0159] Abbreviations CD4i CD4-induced CD4il CD4-induced-like CDR complementarity-determining region CPE cytopathic effect FR framework region HC heavy chain HCDR3 heavy chain complementarity- determining region 3 IRA infectivity reduction assay LC light chain LTNP long-term nonprogressor individual NPA neutralization plaque assay NSI non-syncytium-inducing PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells PHA phytohemagglutinin SI syncytium-inducing TCA T cell-adapted TCID 50% tissue culture infective dose TCLA T cell-adapted laboratory strains

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[0216] This application claims Convention priority to European Patent Application No. 02380126.9, which was filed with the European Patent Office (EPO) on 14 Jun. 2002. The entire contents of European Patent Application No. 02380126.9 is hereby expressly incorporated herein by this reference.

1 69 1 647 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(645) Light chain 1 gag ctc acc cag tct ccg tcc tcc ctg tct gca tct gtt gga gac aga 48 Glu Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Ser Ser Leu Ser Ala Ser Val Gly Asp Arg 1 5 10 15 gtc acc atc act tgc cgg gca agt cag ggc att aga gat gat tta ggc 96 Val Thr Ile Thr Cys Arg Ala Ser Gln Gly Ile Arg Asp Asp Leu Gly 20 25 30 tgg tat cag cag aaa cca ggg aaa gcc cct aag cgc ctg atc tat gct 144 Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Lys Ala Pro Lys Arg Leu Ile Tyr Ala 35 40 45 gca tcc aat tta caa agt ggg gtc cca tca agg ttc agc ggc ggc gga 192 Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Ser Gly Val Pro Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly Gly Gly 50 55 60 tct ggg aca gaa ttc act ctc aca atc agc agc ctg cag cct gaa gat 240 Ser Gly Thr Glu Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser Leu Gln Pro Glu Asp 65 70 75 80 ttt gca act tat tac tgt cta cag cat aat agt tac ccc ctc act ttc 288 Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Leu Gln His Asn Ser Tyr Pro Leu Thr Phe 85 90 95 ggc gga ggg acc aag gtg gag atc aaa cga act gtg gct gca cca tct 336 Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Val Glu Ile Lys Arg Thr Val Ala Ala Pro Ser 100 105 110 gtc ttc atc ttc ccg cca tct gat gag cag ttg aaa tct gga act gcc 384 Val Phe Ile Phe Pro Pro Ser Asp Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Gly Thr Ala 115 120 125 tct gtt gtg tgc ctg ctg aat aac ttc tat ccc aga gag gcc aaa gta 432 Ser Val Val Cys Leu Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr Pro Arg Glu Ala Lys Val 130 135 140 cag tgg aag gtg gat aac gcc ctc caa tcg ggt aac tcc cag gag agt 480 Gln Trp Lys Val Asp Asn Ala Leu Gln Ser Gly Asn Ser Gln Glu Ser 145 150 155 160 gtc aca gag cag gac agc aag gac agc acc tac agc ctc agc agc acc 528 Val Thr Glu Gln Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Thr 165 170 175 ctg acg ctg agc aaa gca gac tac gag aaa cac aaa gtc tac gcc tgc 576 Leu Thr Leu Ser Lys Ala Asp Tyr Glu Lys His Lys Val Tyr Ala Cys 180 185 190 gaa gtc acc cat cag ggc ctg agt tcg ccc gtc aca aag agc ttc aac 624 Glu Val Thr His Gln Gly Leu Ser Ser Pro Val Thr Lys Ser Phe Asn 195 200 205 aag ggg aaa gtg tta att cta ga 647 Lys Gly Lys Val Leu Ile Leu 210 215 2 215 PRT Homo sapiens Light chain 2 Glu Leu Thr Gln Ser Pro Ser Ser Leu Ser Ala Ser Val Gly Asp Arg 1 5 10 15 Val Thr Ile Thr Cys Arg Ala Ser Gln Gly Ile Arg Asp Asp Leu Gly 20 25 30 Trp Tyr Gln Gln Lys Pro Gly Lys Ala Pro Lys Arg Leu Ile Tyr Ala 35 40 45 Ala Ser Asn Leu Gln Ser Gly Val Pro Ser Arg Phe Ser Gly Gly Gly 50 55 60 Ser Gly Thr Glu Phe Thr Leu Thr Ile Ser Ser Leu Gln Pro Glu Asp 65 70 75 80 Phe Ala Thr Tyr Tyr Cys Leu Gln His Asn Ser Tyr Pro Leu Thr Phe 85 90 95 Gly Gly Gly Thr Lys Val Glu Ile Lys Arg Thr Val Ala Ala Pro Ser 100 105 110 Val Phe Ile Phe Pro Pro Ser Asp Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Gly Thr Ala 115 120 125 Ser Val Val Cys Leu Leu Asn Asn Phe Tyr Pro Arg Glu Ala Lys Val 130 135 140 Gln Trp Lys Val Asp Asn Ala Leu Gln Ser Gly Asn Ser Gln Glu Ser 145 150 155 160 Val Thr Glu Gln Asp Ser Lys Asp Ser Thr Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Thr 165 170 175 Leu Thr Leu Ser Lys Ala Asp Tyr Glu Lys His Lys Val Tyr Ala Cys 180 185 190 Glu Val Thr His Gln Gly Leu Ser Ser Pro Val Thr Lys Ser Phe Asn 195 200 205 Lys Gly Lys Val Leu Ile Leu 210 215 3 675 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(675) S8 Heavy chain 3 ctc gag tcg ggg gga ggc ttg gta aag cct ggg ggg tcc ctt aga ctc 48 Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Val Lys Pro Gly Gly Ser Leu Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 tcc tgt gca gcc tct ggt ttc act ttc agt agc tat gct atg cac tgg 96 Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Ser Tyr Ala Met His Trp 20 25 30 gtc cgc cag gct cca ggc aag ggg ctg gag tgg gtg gca ttt ata tgg 144 Val Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Val Ala Phe Ile Trp 35 40 45 ttt gat gga agt aat gaa cga tat gca gac tcc gtg aag ggc cga ttc 192 Phe Asp Gly Ser Asn Glu Arg Tyr Ala Asp Ser Val Lys Gly Arg Phe 50 55 60 acc atc acc aga gac aat ccc aag aac act ctc tat ctg caa atg aac 240 Thr Ile Thr Arg Asp Asn Pro Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gln Met Asn 65 70 75 80 agc ctg aga gtc gag gac acg gct gtt tat tac tgt gtg aga agg gga 288 Ser Leu Arg Val Glu Asp Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Val Arg Arg Gly 85 90 95 ggc tcg att ttg act ggt ttt cat tta gac tac tgg ggc cag gga acc 336 Gly Ser Ile Leu Thr Gly Phe His Leu Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr 100 105 110 ctg gtc acc gtc tcc tca gcc tcc acc aag ggc cca tcg gtc ttc ccc 384 Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Pro 115 120 125 ctg gca ccc tcc tcc aag agc acc tct ggg ggc aca gcg gcc ctg ggc 432 Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly 130 135 140 tgc ctg gtc aag gac tac ttc ccc gaa ccg gtg acg gtg tcg tgg aac 480 Cys Leu Val Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn 145 150 155 160 tca ggc gcc ctg acc agc ggc gtg cac acc ttc ccg gct gtc cta cag 528 Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Val His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln 165 170 175 tcc tca gga ctc tac tcc ctc agc agc gtg gtg acc gtg ccc tcc agc 576 Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser 180 185 190 agc ttg ggc acc cag acc tac atc tgc aac gtg aat cac aag ccc agc 624 Ser Leu Gly Thr Gln Thr Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser 195 200 205 aac acc aag gtg gac aag aga gtt gag ccc aaa tct tgt gac aaa act 672 Asn Thr Lys Val Asp Lys Arg Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr 210 215 220 agt 675 Ser 225 4 225 PRT Homo sapiens S8 Heavy chain 4 Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Leu Val Lys Pro Gly Gly Ser Leu Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Thr Phe Ser Ser Tyr Ala Met His Trp 20 25 30 Val Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Val Ala Phe Ile Trp 35 40 45 Phe Asp Gly Ser Asn Glu Arg Tyr Ala Asp Ser Val Lys Gly Arg Phe 50 55 60 Thr Ile Thr Arg Asp Asn Pro Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gln Met Asn 65 70 75 80 Ser Leu Arg Val Glu Asp Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Val Arg Arg Gly 85 90 95 Gly Ser Ile Leu Thr Gly Phe His Leu Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr 100 105 110 Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Pro 115 120 125 Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly 130 135 140 Cys Leu Val Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn 145 150 155 160 Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Val His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln 165 170 175 Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser 180 185 190 Ser Leu Gly Thr Gln Thr Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser 195 200 205 Asn Thr Lys Val Asp Lys Arg Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr 210 215 220 Ser 225 5 675 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(675) S19 Heavy chain 5 ctc gag tcg ggg gga ggc gtg gtc cag ccc ggg agg tcc ctg aga ctc 48 Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Val Val Gln Pro Gly Arg Ser Leu Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 tcc tgt gca gca tct gga ttc agc ttc agt agt cat ggc atg cac tgg 96 Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Phe Ser Ser His Gly Met His Trp 20 25 30 gtc cgc cag gct cca ggc aag ggg ctg gag tgg gtg gca ttt ata tgg 144 Val Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Val Ala Phe Ile Trp 35 40 45 ttt gat gga agt aat gaa cga tat gca gac tcc gtg aag ggc cga ttc 192 Phe Asp Gly Ser Asn Glu Arg Tyr Ala Asp Ser Val Lys Gly Arg Phe 50 55 60 acc atc acc aga gac aat ccc aag aac act ctc tat ctg caa atg aac 240 Thr Ile Thr Arg Asp Asn Pro Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gln Met Asn 65 70 75 80 agc ctg aga gtc gag gac acg gct gtt tat tac tgt gtg aga agg gga 288 Ser Leu Arg Val Glu Asp Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Val Arg Arg Gly 85 90 95 ggc tcg att ttg act ggt ttt cat tta gac tac tgg ggc cag gga acc 336 Gly Ser Ile Leu Thr Gly Phe His Leu Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr 100 105 110 ctg gtc acc gtc tcc tca gcc tcc acc aag ggc cca tcg gtc ttc ccc 384 Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Pro 115 120 125 ctg gca ccc tcc tcc aag agc acc tct ggg ggc aca gcg gcc ctg ggc 432 Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly 130 135 140 tgc ctg gtc aag gac tac ttc ccc gaa ccg gtg acg gtg tcg tgg aac 480 Cys Leu Val Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn 145 150 155 160 tca ggc gcc ctg acc agc ggc gtg cac acc ttc ccg gct gtc cta cag 528 Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Val His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln 165 170 175 tcc tca gga ctc tac tcc ctc agc agc gtg gtg acc gtg ccc tcc agc 576 Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser 180 185 190 agc ttg ggc acc cag acc tac atc tgc aac gtg aat cac aag ccc agc 624 Ser Leu Gly Thr Gln Thr Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser 195 200 205 aac acc aag gtg gac aag aga gtt gag ccc aaa tct tgt gac aaa act 672 Asn Thr Lys Val Asp Lys Arg Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr 210 215 220 agt 675 Ser 225 6 225 PRT Homo sapiens S19 Heavy chain 6 Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Val Val Gln Pro Gly Arg Ser Leu Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Cys Ala Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Phe Ser Ser His Gly Met His Trp 20 25 30 Val Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Val Ala Phe Ile Trp 35 40 45 Phe Asp Gly Ser Asn Glu Arg Tyr Ala Asp Ser Val Lys Gly Arg Phe 50 55 60 Thr Ile Thr Arg Asp Asn Pro Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gln Met Asn 65 70 75 80 Ser Leu Arg Val Glu Asp Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Val Arg Arg Gly 85 90 95 Gly Ser Ile Leu Thr Gly Phe His Leu Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr 100 105 110 Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Pro 115 120 125 Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly 130 135 140 Cys Leu Val Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn 145 150 155 160 Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Val His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln 165 170 175 Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser 180 185 190 Ser Leu Gly Thr Gln Thr Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser 195 200 205 Asn Thr Lys Val Asp Lys Arg Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr 210 215 220 Ser 225 7 675 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(675) S20 Heavy chain 7 ctc gag tcg ggg gga ggc gtg gtc cag cct ggg agg tcc ctg aga ctt 48 Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Val Val Gln Pro Gly Arg Ser Leu Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 tcc tgc tca gcc tct gga ttc agc ttc aga gat tat gcc atg cac tgg 96 Ser Cys Ser Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Phe Arg Asp Tyr Ala Met His Trp 20 25 30 gtc cgc cag gct cca ggc aag ggg ctg gag tgg gtg gca ttt ata tgg 144 Val Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Val Ala Phe Ile Trp 35 40 45 ttt gat gga agt aat gaa cga tat gca gac tcc gtg aag ggc cga ttc 192 Phe Asp Gly Ser Asn Glu Arg Tyr Ala Asp Ser Val Lys Gly Arg Phe 50 55 60 acc atc acc aga gac aat ccc aag aac act ctc tat ctg caa atg aac 240 Thr Ile Thr Arg Asp Asn Pro Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gln Met Asn 65 70 75 80 agc ctg aga gtc gag gac acg gct gtt tat tac tgt gtg aga agg gga 288 Ser Leu Arg Val Glu Asp Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Val Arg Arg Gly 85 90 95 ggc tcg att ttg act ggt ttt cat tta gac tac tgg ggc cag gga acc 336 Gly Ser Ile Leu Thr Gly Phe His Leu Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr 100 105 110 ctg gtc acc gtc tcc tca gcc tcc acc aag ggc cca tcg gtc ttc ccc 384 Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Pro 115 120 125 ctg gca ccc tcc tcc aag agc acc tct ggg ggc aca gcg gcc ctg ggc 432 Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly 130 135 140 tgc ctg gtc aag gac tac ttc ccc gaa ccg gtg acg gtg tcg tgg aac 480 Cys Leu Val Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn 145 150 155 160 tca ggc gcc ctg acc agc ggc gtg cac acc ttc ccg gct gtc cta cag 528 Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Val His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln 165 170 175 tcc tca gga ctc tac tcc ctc agc agc gtg gtg acc gtg ccc tcc agc 576 Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser 180 185 190 agc ttg ggc acc cag acc tac atc tgc aac gtg aat cac aag ccc agc 624 Ser Leu Gly Thr Gln Thr Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser 195 200 205 aac acc aag gtg gac aag aga gtt gag ccc aaa tct tgt gac aaa act 672 Asn Thr Lys Val Asp Lys Arg Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr 210 215 220 agt 675 Ser 225 8 225 PRT Homo sapiens S20 Heavy chain 8 Leu Glu Ser Gly Gly Gly Val Val Gln Pro Gly Arg Ser Leu Arg Leu 1 5 10 15 Ser Cys Ser Ala Ser Gly Phe Ser Phe Arg Asp Tyr Ala Met His Trp 20 25 30 Val Arg Gln Ala Pro Gly Lys Gly Leu Glu Trp Val Ala Phe Ile Trp 35 40 45 Phe Asp Gly Ser Asn Glu Arg Tyr Ala Asp Ser Val Lys Gly Arg Phe 50 55 60 Thr Ile Thr Arg Asp Asn Pro Lys Asn Thr Leu Tyr Leu Gln Met Asn 65 70 75 80 Ser Leu Arg Val Glu Asp Thr Ala Val Tyr Tyr Cys Val Arg Arg Gly 85 90 95 Gly Ser Ile Leu Thr Gly Phe His Leu Asp Tyr Trp Gly Gln Gly Thr 100 105 110 Leu Val Thr Val Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Lys Gly Pro Ser Val Phe Pro 115 120 125 Leu Ala Pro Ser Ser Lys Ser Thr Ser Gly Gly Thr Ala Ala Leu Gly 130 135 140 Cys Leu Val Lys Asp Tyr Phe Pro Glu Pro Val Thr Val Ser Trp Asn 145 150 155 160 Ser Gly Ala Leu Thr Ser Gly Val His Thr Phe Pro Ala Val Leu Gln 165 170 175 Ser Ser Gly Leu Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Val Val Thr Val Pro Ser Ser 180 185 190 Ser Leu Gly Thr Gln Thr Tyr Ile Cys Asn Val Asn His Lys Pro Ser 195 200 205 Asn Thr Lys Val Asp Lys Arg Val Glu Pro Lys Ser Cys Asp Lys Thr 210 215 220 Ser 225 9 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 9 Gly Ile Gln Leu Ala Asn Pro Pro Arg Leu Tyr Gly 1 5 10 10 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 10 Phe Leu Gln Pro Pro Asp Phe Ser His Leu Pro Pro 1 5 10 11 7 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 11 Ser Ala Met Glu Ala Pro Pro 1 5 12 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 12 Leu Leu Ala Asp Thr Thr His His Arg Pro Trp Thr 1 5 10 13 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 13 Gln Glu Val Gly Lys Ala Met Tyr Ala Pro Pro Ile 1 5 10 14 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 14 Ser Gly Leu Asp Gly Met His Val Asn Ser Pro Trp 1 5 10 15 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 15 His Thr Lys Cys Ser Asp Ala Ser Cys Pro Leu Ile 1 5 10 16 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 16 Ser Ala Lys Pro Ser Tyr Gln Pro Tyr Ala Gln Pro 1 5 10 17 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 17 Phe Pro Ala Ser Met Pro Gly Leu Leu Leu Arg Val 1 5 10 18 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 18 Gln Val Met Arg Met Met Pro Asn Gly Val Tyr Cys 1 5 10 19 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 19 Gln Asp Arg Ala Leu Ile Thr Pro Leu Asp Gln Thr 1 5 10 20 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 20 His Asp Glu Phe Val Trp Ile Ser Ile Trp Glu Pro 1 5 10 21 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 21 Trp Thr Thr Asn Phe Ala Asp Pro Pro Ser Ser Thr 1 5 10 22 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 22 Ser Ser Cys Ala Ala Phe Trp Ser Lys Ala Arg Pro 1 5 10 23 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 23 Cys Leu Ser Ser Asn Ser Ser Pro Pro Pro Arg Pro 1 5 10 24 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 24 His Thr Arg Val Leu Pro Ser Thr Ala Met Thr Leu 1 5 10 25 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 25 Leu Phe Gln Lys Gln Ile Glu Ser Pro Trp Arg Ser 1 5 10 26 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 26 His Gly His Pro Leu Lys Thr Asn Thr His Arg Ser 1 5 10 27 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 27 Met Pro Asn Pro Arg Gln Asn Pro Pro Pro Pro Leu 1 5 10 28 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 28 Asn Phe Gln Thr Pro Asp Arg Thr Gln Ser Asn Leu 1 5 10 29 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 29 Phe Tyr Thr Pro Thr Met His Ser Tyr Gly Ile Gln 1 5 10 30 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 30 Ser Val Ser Pro Asn Met Arg Met Leu His Trp Trp 1 5 10 31 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 31 Thr Thr Gly Asp His Arg Ala Phe Trp Leu Gly Gly 1 5 10 32 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 32 Asn Tyr Phe Gln Gln Pro Pro Glu Arg His Ser Ser 1 5 10 33 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 33 His Ile Glu Thr Leu Leu Pro Ala Pro Glu Leu Ser 1 5 10 34 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 34 Lys Ala Pro Ile Pro Ser Ser Ile Pro Gly Phe Arg 1 5 10 35 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 35 Gly Thr Thr Gln Asn Ala Met Ser Leu Ala Arg Leu 1 5 10 36 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 36 Gln Pro Thr Thr Pro Phe Phe Asp Trp Asp Thr His 1 5 10 37 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 37 His Ala Ser Thr Pro Ser Ser Pro Trp Ser Arg Pro 1 5 10 38 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 38 Met Gln Ser Gln Leu Tyr Arg Asp Ser Pro Arg Gly 1 5 10 39 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 39 Leu Pro Asn Ala Thr Lys Leu Ala Pro Ile Ser Pro 1 5 10 40 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 40 Thr Ala Met Asn Leu Gly Pro Ala Leu Phe Arg Thr 1 5 10 41 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 41 Trp Phe Lys Pro Pro Gln Thr Pro Leu Thr Leu Met 1 5 10 42 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 42 Thr Met Gln Pro Tyr Lys Ser Trp Trp Ser Ser Lys 1 5 10 43 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 43 Ala Asp Val Met Leu His Ser Lys His Val Gln Met 1 5 10 44 11 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 44 Lys Ser Ala Tyr Thr Gly Leu Leu Gly Ser Met 1 5 10 45 518 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 45 Met Arg Val Met Gly Ile Arg Arg Asn Tyr Gln His Leu Trp Arg Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Thr Leu Leu Leu Gly Ile Leu Met Ile Ser Ser Ala Thr Glu Gln 20 25 30 Leu Trp Val Thr Val Tyr Tyr Gly Val Pro Val Trp Lys Glu Ala Thr 35 40 45 Thr Thr Leu Phe Cys Ala Ser Asp Ala Lys Ala Tyr Asp Thr Glu Val 50 55 60 His Asn Val Trp Ala Thr His Ala Cys Val Pro Thr Asp Pro Asn Pro 65 70 75 80 Gln Glu Ile Leu Leu Glu Lys Val Thr Glu Lys Phe Asn Met Gly Lys 85 90 95 Asn Asn Met Val Glu Gln Met His Glu Asp Ile Ile Ser Leu Trp Asp 100 105 110 Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Cys Val Lys Leu Thr Pro Leu Cys Val Thr Leu 115 120 125 Lys Cys Thr Asp Ala Thr Ala Thr Asn Asp Thr Val Thr Asn Ala Thr 130 135 140 Ala Ser Ser Thr Asn Val Thr Ser Ala Ile Val Ser Ser Gly Glu Gly 145 150 155 160 Glu Met Lys Asn Cys Ser Phe Asn Ile Thr Thr Ser Ile Arg Asp Lys 165 170 175 Met Gln Lys Glu Tyr Ala Thr Phe Tyr Lys Leu Asp Ile Val Pro Ile 180 185 190 Asp Gly Asp Asn Thr Ser Tyr Arg Leu Ile Ser Cys Asn Thr Ser Val 195 200 205 Ile Thr Gln Ala Cys Pro Lys Val Ser Phe Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile His 210 215 220 Tyr Cys Ala Pro Ala Gly Phe Ala Ile Leu Lys Cys Asn Asp Lys Lys 225 230 235 240 Phe Asn Gly Thr Gly Ser Cys Ala Asn Val Ser Thr Val Gln Cys Thr 245 250 255 His Gly Ile Arg Pro Val Val Ser Thr Gln Leu Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser 260 265 270 Leu Ala Glu Asp Glu Val Glu Ile Arg Ser Val Asn Phe Thr Asp Asn 275 280 285 Ala Lys Thr Ile Ile Val Gln Leu Lys Glu Pro Val Gln Ile Asn Cys 290 295 300 Thr Arg Pro Asn Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly 305 310 315 320 Arg Ala Phe Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly Lys Ile Arg Gln Ala 325 330 335 His Cys Asn Ile Ser Arg Ala Lys Trp Asn Asn Thr Leu Arg Gln Ile 340 345 350 Ala Asp Lys Leu Arg Glu Gln Phe Gly Ala Asn Lys Thr Ile Asn Phe 355 360 365 Asn Gln Ser Ser Gly Gly Asp Pro Glu Ile Val Met His Ser Phe Asn 370 375 380 Cys Gly Gly Glu Phe Phe Tyr Cys Asn Thr Thr Gln Leu Phe Asn Ser 385 390 395 400 Thr Trp Asn Ser Thr Trp Ser Ser Thr Asn Gly Thr Asn Asn Thr Glu 405 410 415 Gly Thr Ile Thr Leu Gln Cys Arg Ile Lys Gln Ile Ile Asn Leu Trp 420 425 430 Gln Glu Val Gly Lys Ala Met Tyr Ala Pro Pro Ile Arg Gly Arg Ile 435 440 445 Arg Cys Ser Ser Asn Ile Thr Gly Leu Leu Leu Thr Arg Asp Gly Gly 450 455 460 Ile Asn Glu Thr Glu Asn Gly Thr Glu Ile Phe Arg Pro Gly Gly Gly 465 470 475 480 Asp Met Arg Asp Asn Trp Arg Ser Glu Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Val Val 485 490 495 Gln Ile Glu Pro Leu Gly Ile Ala Pro Thr Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Val 500 505 510 Val Gln Arg Glu Lys Arg 515 46 518 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 46 Met Arg Val Met Gly Ile Arg Arg Asn Tyr Gln His Leu Trp Arg Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Thr Leu Leu Leu Gly Ile Leu Met Ile Ser Ser Ala Thr Glu Gln 20 25 30 Leu Trp Val Thr Val Tyr Tyr Gly Val Pro Val Trp Lys Glu Ala Thr 35 40 45 Thr Thr Leu Phe Cys Ala Ser Asp Ala Lys Ala Tyr Asp Thr Glu Val 50 55 60 His Asn Val Trp Ala Thr His Ala Cys Val Pro Thr Asp Pro Asn Pro 65 70 75 80 Gln Glu Ile Leu Leu Glu Lys Val Thr Glu Lys Phe Asn Met Gly Lys 85 90 95 Asn Asn Met Val Glu Gln Met His Glu Asp Ile Ile Ser Leu Trp Asp 100 105 110 Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Cys Val Lys Leu Thr Pro Leu Cys Val Thr Leu 115 120 125 Lys Cys Thr Asp Ala Thr Ala Thr Asn Asp Thr Val Thr Asn Ala Thr 130 135 140 Ala Ser Ser Thr Asn Val Thr Ser Ala Ile Val Ser Asn Gly Glu Gly 145 150 155 160 Glu Met Lys Asn Cys Ser Phe Asn Ile Thr Thr Ser Ile Arg Asp Lys 165 170 175 Met Gln Lys Glu Tyr Ala Thr Phe Tyr Lys Leu Asp Ile Val Pro Ile 180 185 190 Asp Gly Asp Asn Thr Ser Tyr Arg Leu Ile Ser Cys Asn Thr Ser Val 195 200 205 Ile Thr Gln Ala Cys Pro Lys Val Ser Phe Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile His 210 215 220 Tyr Cys Ala Pro Ala Gly Phe Ala Ile Leu Lys Cys Asn Asp Lys Lys 225 230 235 240 Phe Asn Gly Thr Gly Ser Cys Ala Asn Val Ser Thr Val Gln Cys Thr 245 250 255 His Gly Ile Arg Pro Val Val Ser Thr Gln Leu Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser 260 265 270 Leu Ala Glu Asp Glu Val Glu Ile Arg Ser Val Asn Phe Thr Asp Asn 275 280 285 Ala Lys Thr Ile Ile Val Gln Leu Lys Glu Pro Val Gln Ile Asn Cys 290 295 300 Thr Arg Pro Asn Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly 305 310 315 320 Arg Ala Phe Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly Lys Ile Arg Gln Ala 325 330 335 His Cys Asn Ile Ser Arg Ala Lys Trp Asn Asn Thr Leu Arg Gln Ile 340 345 350 Ala Asp Lys Leu Arg Glu Gln Phe Gly Ala Asn Lys Thr Ile Asn Phe 355 360 365 Asn Gln Ser Ser Gly Gly Asp Pro Glu Ile Val Met His Ser Phe Asn 370 375 380 Cys Gly Gly Glu Phe Phe Tyr Cys Asn Thr Thr Gln Leu Phe Asn Ser 385 390 395 400 Thr Trp Asn Ser Thr Trp Ser Ser Thr Asn Gly Thr Asn Asn Thr Glu 405 410 415 Gly Thr Ile Thr Leu Gln Cys Arg Ile Lys Gln Ile Ile Asn Leu Trp 420 425 430 Gln Glu Val Gly Lys Ala Met Tyr Ala Pro Pro Ile Arg Gly Arg Ile 435 440 445 Arg Cys Ser Ser Asn Ile Thr Gly Leu Leu Leu Thr Arg Asp Gly Gly 450 455 460 Ile Asn Glu Thr Glu Asn Gly Thr Glu Ile Phe Arg Pro Gly Gly Gly 465 470 475 480 Asp Met Arg Asp Asn Trp Arg Ser Glu Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Val Val 485 490 495 Gln Ile Glu Pro Leu Gly Ile Ala Pro Thr Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Val 500 505 510 Val Gln Arg Glu Lys Arg 515 47 518 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 47 Met Arg Val Met Gly Ile Arg Arg Asn Tyr Gln His Leu Trp Arg Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Thr Leu Leu Leu Gly Ile Leu Met Ile Ser Ser Ala Thr Glu Gln 20 25 30 Leu Trp Val Thr Val Tyr Tyr Gly Val Pro Val Trp Lys Glu Ala Thr 35 40 45 Thr Thr Leu Phe Cys Ala Ser Asp Ala Lys Ala Tyr Asp Thr Glu Val 50 55 60 His Asn Val Trp Ala Thr His Ala Cys Val Pro Thr Asp Pro Asn Pro 65 70 75 80 Gln Glu Ile Leu Leu Glu Lys Val Thr Glu Lys Phe Asn Met Gly Lys 85 90 95 Asn Asn Met Val Glu Gln Met His Glu Asp Ile Ile Ser Leu Trp Asp 100 105 110 Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Cys Val Lys Leu Thr Pro Leu Cys Val Thr Leu 115 120 125 Lys Cys Thr Asp Ala Thr Ala Thr Asn Asp Thr Val Thr Asn Ala Thr 130 135 140 Ala Ser Ser Thr Asn Val Thr Ser Ala Ile Val Ser Ser Gly Glu Gly 145 150 155 160 Glu Met Lys Asn Cys Ser Phe Asn Ile Thr Thr Ser Ile Arg Asp Lys 165 170 175 Met Gln Lys Glu Tyr Ala Thr Phe Tyr Lys Leu Asp Ile Val Pro Ile 180 185 190 Asp Gly Asp Asn Thr Ser Tyr Arg Leu Ile Ser Cys Asn Thr Ser Val 195 200 205 Ile Thr Gln Ala Cys Pro Lys Val Ser Phe Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile His 210 215 220 Tyr Cys Ala Pro Ala Gly Phe Ala Ile Leu Lys Cys Asn Asp Lys Lys 225 230 235 240 Phe Asn Gly Thr Gly Ser Cys Ala Asn Val Ser Thr Val Gln Cys Thr 245 250 255 His Gly Ile Arg Pro Val Val Ser Thr Gln Leu Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser 260 265 270 Leu Ala Glu Asp Glu Val Glu Ile Arg Ser Val Asn Phe Thr Asp Asn 275 280 285 Ala Lys Thr Ile Ile Val Gln Leu Lys Glu Pro Val Gln Ile Asn Cys 290 295 300 Thr Arg Pro Asn Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly 305 310 315 320 Arg Ala Phe Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly Lys Ile Arg Gln Ala 325 330 335 His Cys Asn Ile Ser Arg Ala Lys Trp Asn Asn Thr Leu Arg Gln Ile 340 345 350 Ala Asp Lys Leu Arg Glu Gln Phe Gly Ala Asn Lys Thr Ile Asn Phe 355 360 365 Asn Gln Ser Ser Gly Gly Asp Pro Glu Ile Val Met His Ser Phe Asn 370 375 380 Cys Gly Gly Glu Phe Phe Tyr Cys Asn Ser Thr Gln Leu Phe Asn Ser 385 390 395 400 Thr Trp Asn Ser Thr Trp Ser Ser Thr Asp Gly Thr Asn Asn Thr Glu 405 410 415 Gly Thr Ile Thr Leu Gln Cys Arg Ile Lys Gln Ile Ile Asn Leu Trp 420 425 430 Gln Glu Val Gly Lys Ala Met Tyr Ala Pro Pro Ile Arg Gly Arg Ile 435 440 445 Arg Cys Ser Ser Asn Ile Thr Gly Leu Leu Leu Thr Arg Asp Gly Gly 450 455 460 Ile Asn Glu Thr Glu Asn Gly Thr Glu Ile Phe Arg Pro Gly Gly Gly 465 470 475 480 Asp Met Arg Asp Asn Trp Arg Ser Glu Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Val Val 485 490 495 Gln Ile Glu Pro Leu Gly Ile Ala Pro Thr Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Val 500 505 510 Val Gln Arg Glu Lys Arg 515 48 518 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 48 Met Arg Val Met Gly Ile Arg Arg Asn Tyr Gln His Leu Trp Arg Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Thr Leu Leu Leu Gly Ile Leu Met Ile Ser Ser Ala Thr Glu Gln 20 25 30 Leu Trp Val Thr Val Tyr Tyr Gly Val Pro Val Trp Lys Glu Ala Thr 35 40 45 Thr Thr Leu Phe Cys Ala Ser Asp Ala Lys Ala Tyr Asp Thr Glu Val 50 55 60 His Asn Val Trp Ala Thr His Ala Cys Val Pro Thr Asp Pro Asn Pro 65 70 75 80 Gln Glu Ile Leu Leu Glu Lys Val Thr Glu Lys Phe Asn Met Gly Lys 85 90 95 Asn Asn Met Val Glu Gln Met His Glu Asp Ile Thr Ser Leu Trp Asp 100 105 110 Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Cys Val Lys Leu Thr Pro Leu Cys Val Thr Leu 115 120 125 Lys Cys Thr Asp Ala Thr Ala Thr Asn Asp Thr Val Thr Asn Ala Thr 130 135 140 Ala Ser Ser Thr Asn Val Thr Ser Ala Ile Val Ser Ser Gly Glu Gly 145 150 155 160 Glu Met Lys Ser Cys Ser Phe Asn Ile Thr Thr Ser Ile Arg Asp Lys 165 170 175 Met Gln Lys Glu Tyr Ala Thr Phe Tyr Lys Leu Asp Ile Val Pro Ile 180 185 190 Asp Gly Asp Asn Thr Ser Tyr Arg Leu Ile Ser Cys Asn Thr Ser Val 195 200 205 Ile Thr Gln Ala Cys Pro Lys Val Ser Phe Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile His 210 215 220 Tyr Cys Ala Pro Ala Gly Phe Ala Ile Leu Lys Cys Asn Asp Lys Lys 225 230 235 240 Phe Asp Gly Thr Gly Ser Cys Ala Asn Val Ser Thr Val Gln Cys Thr 245 250 255 His Gly Ile Arg Pro Val Val Ser Thr Gln Leu Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser 260 265 270 Leu Ala Glu Asp Glu Val Glu Ile Arg Ser Val Asn Phe Thr Asp Asn 275 280 285 Ala Lys Thr Ile Ile Val Gln Leu Lys Glu Pro Val Gln Ile Asn Cys 290 295 300 Thr Arg Pro Asn Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly 305 310 315 320 Arg Ala Phe Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly Lys Ile Arg Gln Ala 325 330 335 His Cys Asn Ile Ser Arg Ala Lys Trp Asn Asn Thr Leu Arg Gln Ile 340 345 350 Ala Asp Lys Leu Arg Glu Gln Phe Gly Ala Asn Lys Thr Ile Asn Phe 355 360 365 Asn Gln Ser Ser Gly Gly Asp Pro Glu Ile Val Met His Ser Phe Asn 370 375 380 Cys Gly Gly Glu Phe Phe Tyr Cys Asn Thr Thr Gln Leu Phe Asn Ser 385 390 395 400 Thr Trp Asn Ser Thr Trp Ser Ser Thr Asn Gly Thr Asn Asn Thr Glu 405 410 415 Gly Thr Ile Thr Leu Gln Cys Arg Ile Lys Gln Ile Ile Asn Leu Trp 420 425 430 Gln Glu Val Gly Lys Ala Met Tyr Ala Pro Pro Ile Arg Gly Arg Ile 435 440 445 Arg Cys Ser Ser Asn Ile Thr Gly Leu Leu Leu Thr Arg Asp Gly Gly 450 455 460 Ile Asn Glu Thr Glu Asn Gly Thr Glu Ile Phe Arg Pro Gly Gly Gly 465 470 475 480 Asp Met Arg Asp Asn Trp Arg Ser Glu Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Val Val 485 490 495 Gln Ile Glu Pro Leu Gly Ile Ala Pro Thr Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Val 500 505 510 Val Gln Arg Glu Lys Arg 515 49 515 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 49 Met Arg Val Met Gly Ile Arg Arg Asn Tyr Gln His Leu Trp Arg Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Thr Leu Leu Leu Gly Ile Leu Met Ile Ser Ser Ala Ala Glu Lys 20 25 30 Leu Trp Val Thr Val Tyr Tyr Gly Val Pro Val Trp Lys Glu Ala Thr 35 40 45 Thr Thr Leu Phe Cys Ala Ser Asp Ala Lys Ala Tyr Asp Thr Glu Val 50 55 60 His Asn Val Trp Ala Thr His Ala Cys Val Pro Thr Asp Pro Asn Pro 65 70 75 80 Gln Glu Ile Leu Leu Glu Lys Val Thr Glu Lys Phe Asn Met Gly Lys 85 90 95 Asn Asn Met Val Glu Gln Met His Glu Asp Ile Ile Ser Leu Trp Asp 100 105 110 Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Cys Val Lys Leu Thr Pro Leu Cys Val Thr Leu 115 120 125 Lys Cys Thr Asp Ala Thr Ala Thr Asn Asp Thr Val Thr Asn Ala Thr 130 135 140 Ala Ser Ser Thr Asn Val Thr Ser Ala Ile Val Ser Ser Gly Glu Gly 145 150 155 160 Glu Met Lys Asn Cys Ser Phe Asn Ile Thr Thr Ser Ile Arg Asp Lys 165 170 175 Met Gln Lys Glu Tyr Ala Thr Phe Tyr Lys Leu Asp Ile Val Pro Ile 180 185 190 Asp Gly Asp Asn Thr Ser Tyr Arg Leu Ile Ser Cys Asn Thr Ser Val 195 200 205 Ile Thr Gln Ala Cys Pro Lys Val Ser Phe Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile His 210 215 220 Tyr Cys Ala Pro Ala Gly Phe Ala Ile Leu Lys Cys Asn Asp Lys Lys 225 230 235 240 Phe Asn Gly Thr Gly Ser Cys Thr Asn Val Ser Thr Val Gln Cys Thr 245 250 255 His Gly Ile Arg Pro Val Val Ser Thr Gln Leu Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser 260 265 270 Leu Ala Glu Glu Glu Val Val Ile Arg Ser Val Asn Phe Thr Asp Asn 275 280 285 Ala Lys Thr Ile Ile Val Gln Leu Asn Lys Ser Val Glu Ile Asn Cys 290 295 300 Thr Arg Pro Ser Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly 305 310 315 320 Arg Ala Phe Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile Gly Asn Ile Arg Gln Ala 325 330 335 His Cys Asn Ile Ser Arg Thr Lys Trp Asn Asn Thr Leu Gly Gln Ile 340 345 350 Val Glu Lys Leu Arg Glu Gln Phe Gly Asn Lys Thr Ile Ile Phe Asn 355 360 365 Gln Ser Ser Gly Gly Asp Pro Glu Ile Val Met His Ser Phe Asn Cys 370 375 380 Gly Gly Glu Phe Phe Tyr Cys Asn Ser Thr Gln Leu Phe Asn Ser Thr 385 390 395 400 Trp Asn Ser Thr Trp Asn Gly Thr Glu Gly Ala Asn Asn Thr Glu Asp 405 410 415 Thr Ile Thr Leu Gln Cys Arg Ile Lys Gln Ile Ile Asn Leu Trp Gln 420 425 430 Glu Val Gly Lys Ala Met Tyr Ala Pro Pro Ile Arg Gly Gln Ile Arg 435 440 445 Cys Ser Ser Asn Ile Thr Gly Leu Leu Leu Thr Arg Asp Gly Gly Thr 450 455 460 Gly Asn Asn Glu Thr Glu Ile Phe Arg Pro Gly Gly Gly Asp Met Arg 465 470 475 480 Asp Asn Trp Arg Ser Glu Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Val Val Lys Ile Glu 485 490 495 Pro Leu Gly Val Ala Pro Thr Lys Ala Lys Arg Arg Val Val Gln Arg 500 505 510 Glu Lys Arg 515 50 510 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 50 Met Arg Val Met Gly Ile Arg Arg Asn Tyr Gln His Leu Trp Arg Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Thr Leu Leu Leu Gly Ile Leu Met Ile Ser Ser Ala Thr Glu Gln 20 25 30 Leu Trp Val Thr Val Tyr Tyr Gly Val Pro Val Trp Lys Glu Ala Thr 35 40 45 Thr Thr Leu Phe Cys Ala Ser Asp Ala Lys Ala Tyr Asp Thr Glu Val 50 55 60 His Asn Val Trp Ala Thr His Ala Cys Val Pro Thr Asp Pro Asn Pro 65 70 75 80 Gln Glu Ile Leu Leu Glu Lys Val Thr Glu Asn Phe Asn Met Gly Lys 85 90 95 Asn Asn Met Val Glu Gln Met Gln Glu Asp Ile Ile Ser Leu Trp Asp 100 105 110 Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Cys Val Glu Leu Thr Pro Leu Cys Val Thr Leu 115 120 125 Asn Cys Thr Asp Leu Arg Asn Ala Thr Asn Ile Thr Val Ser Ser Gly 130 135 140 Glu Met Met Glu Lys Gly Glu Ile Lys Asn Cys Ser Phe Asn Ile Thr 145 150 155 160 Thr Ser Ile Arg Asp Lys Val Gln Lys Glu Tyr Ala Leu Phe Tyr Lys 165 170 175 Leu Asp Val Val Pro Ile Asn Glu Asp Asn Thr Ser Thr Ser Tyr Arg 180 185 190 Leu Ile Ser Cys Asn Thr Ser Val Ile Thr Gln Ala Cys Pro Lys Val 195 200 205 Ser Phe Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile His Tyr Cys Ala Pro Ala Gly Phe Ala 210 215 220 Ile Leu Lys Cys Asn Asp Lys Lys Phe Asn Gly Thr Gly Ser Cys Ala 225 230 235 240 Asn Val Ser Thr Val Gln Cys Thr His Gly Ile Arg Pro Val Val Ser 245 250 255 Thr Gln Leu Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Ala Glu Asp Glu Val Glu Ile 260 265 270 Arg Ser Val Asn Phe Thr Asp Asn Ala Lys Thr Ile Ile Val Gln Leu 275 280 285 Lys Glu Pro Val Gln Ile Asn Cys Thr Arg Pro Asn Asn Asn Thr Arg 290 295 300 Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu 305 310 315 320 Ile Ile Gly Lys Ile Arg Gln Ala His Cys Asn Ile Ser Arg Ala Lys 325 330 335 Trp Asn Asn Thr Leu Arg Gln Ile Ala Asp Lys Leu Arg Glu Gln Phe 340 345 350 Gly Ala Asn Lys Thr Ile Asn Phe Asn Gln Ser Ser Gly Gly Asp Pro 355 360 365 Glu Ile Val Met His Ser Phe Asn Cys Gly Gly Glu Phe Phe Tyr Cys 370 375 380 Asn Thr Thr Gln Leu Phe Asn Ser Thr Trp Asn Asn Thr Trp Asn Gly 385 390 395 400 Thr Glu Gly Ala Asn Asn Thr Glu Asp Thr Ile Thr Leu Gln Cys Lys 405 410 415 Ile Lys Gln Ile Ile Asn Leu Trp Gln Glu Val Gly Lys Ala Met Tyr 420 425 430 Ala Pro Pro Ile Arg Gly Arg Ile Arg Cys Ser Ser Asn Ile Thr Gly 435 440 445 Leu Leu Leu Thr Arg Asp Gly Gly Ile Asn Glu Thr Glu Asn Gly Thr 450 455 460 Glu Ile Phe Arg Pro Gly Gly Gly Asp Met Arg Asp Asn Trp Arg Ser 465 470 475 480 Glu Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Val Val Gln Ile Glu Pro Leu Gly Ile Ala 485 490 495 Pro Thr Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Val Val Gln Arg Glu Lys Arg 500 505 510 51 508 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 51 Met Arg Val Lys Gly Ile Arg Arg Asn Tyr Gln His Leu Trp Arg Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Thr Met Leu Leu Gly Ile Leu Met Ile Ser Ser Ala Ala Glu Lys 20 25 30 Leu Trp Val Thr Val Tyr Tyr Gly Val Pro Val Trp Lys Glu Ala Thr 35 40 45 Thr Thr Leu Phe Cys Ala Ser Asp Ala Lys Ala Tyr Asp Thr Glu Val 50 55 60 His Asn Val Trp Ala Thr His Ala Cys Val Pro Thr Asp Pro Asn Pro 65 70 75 80 Gln Glu Val Pro Leu Arg Asn Val Thr Glu Asn Phe Asn Met Gly Lys 85 90 95 Asn Asn Met Val Glu Gln Met Gln Glu Asp Ile Ile Ser Leu Trp Asp 100 105 110 Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Cys Val Lys Leu Thr Pro Leu Cys Val Thr Leu 115 120 125 Asn Cys Thr Asp Leu Arg Asn Ala Thr Asn Ile Thr Val Ser Ser Gly 130 135 140 Glu Met Met Glu Lys Gly Glu Ile Lys Asn Cys Ser Phe Asn Ile Thr 145 150 155 160 Thr Ser Ile Arg Asp Lys Val Gln Lys Glu Tyr Ala Leu Phe Tyr Lys 165 170 175 Leu Asp Val Val Pro Ile Asp Gly Asp Asn Thr Ser Tyr Arg Leu Ile 180 185 190 Ser Cys Asn Thr Ser Val Ile Thr Gln Ala Cys Pro Lys Val Ser Phe 195 200 205 Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile His Tyr Cys Ala Pro Ala Gly Phe Ala Ile Leu 210 215 220 Lys Cys Asn Asp Lys Lys Phe Asn Gly Thr Gly Ser Cys Ala Asn Val 225 230 235 240 Ser Thr Val Gln Cys Thr His Gly Ile Arg Pro Val Val Ser Thr Gln 245 250 255 Leu Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Ala Glu Asp Glu Val Glu Ile Arg Ser 260 265 270 Val Asn Phe Thr Asp Asn Ala Lys Thr Ile Ile Val Gln Leu Lys Glu 275 280 285 Pro Val Gln Ile Asn Cys Thr Arg Pro Asn Asn Asn Thr Arg Lys Ser 290 295 300 Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu Ile Ile 305 310 315 320 Gly Lys Ile Arg Gln Ala His Cys Asn Ile Ser Arg Ala Lys Trp Asn 325 330 335 Asn Thr Leu Arg Gln Ile Ala Asp Lys Leu Arg Glu Gln Phe Gly Ala 340 345 350 Asn Lys Thr Ile Asn Phe Asn Gln Ser Ser Arg Gly Asp Pro Glu Ile 355 360 365 Val Met His Ser Phe Asn Cys Gly Gly Glu Phe Phe Tyr Cys Asn Thr 370 375 380 Thr Gln Leu Phe Asn Ser Thr Trp Asn Ser Thr Trp Ser Ser Thr Asn 385 390 395 400 Gly Thr Asn Asn Thr Glu Gly Thr Ile Thr Leu Gln Cys Arg Ile Lys 405 410 415 Gln Ile Ile Asn Leu Trp Gln Glu Val Gly Lys Ala Met Tyr Ala Pro 420 425 430 Pro Ile Arg Gly Arg Ile Arg Cys Ser Ser Asn Ile Thr Gly Leu Leu 435 440 445 Leu Thr Arg Asp Gly Gly Ile Asn Glu Thr Glu Asn Gly Thr Glu Ile 450 455 460 Phe Arg Pro Gly Gly Gly Asp Met Arg Asp Asn Trp Arg Ser Glu Leu 465 470 475 480 Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Val Val Gln Ile Glu Pro Leu Gly Ile Ala Pro Thr 485 490 495 Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Val Val Gln Arg Glu Lys Arg 500 505 52 509 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 52 Met Arg Val Met Gly Ile Arg Arg Asn Tyr Gln His Leu Trp Arg Trp 1 5 10 15 Gly Thr Leu Leu Leu Gly Ile Leu Met Ile Ser Ser Ala Thr Glu Gln 20 25 30 Leu Trp Val Thr Val Tyr Tyr Gly Ala Pro Val Trp Lys Glu Ala Thr 35 40 45 Thr Thr Leu Phe Cys Ala Ser Asp Ala Lys Ala Tyr Asp Thr Glu Val 50 55 60 His Asn Val Trp Ala Thr His Ala Cys Val Pro Thr Asp Pro Asn Pro 65 70 75 80 Gln Glu Val Pro Leu Arg Asn Val Thr Glu Asn Phe Asn Met Gly Lys 85 90 95 Asn Asn Met Val Glu Gln Met Gln Glu Asp Ile Ile Ser Leu Trp Asp 100 105 110 Gln Ser Leu Lys Pro Cys Val Lys Leu Thr Pro Leu Cys Val Thr Leu 115 120 125 Asn Cys Thr Asp Leu Arg Asn Ala Thr Asn Ile Thr Val Ser Ser Gly 130 135 140 Glu Met Met Glu Lys Gly Glu Ile Lys Asn Cys Ser Phe Asn Ile Thr 145 150 155 160 Thr Ser Ile Arg Asp Lys Val Gln Lys Glu Tyr Ala Leu Phe Tyr Lys 165 170 175 Leu Asp Val Val Pro Ile Asn Glu Asp Asn Thr Ser Thr Ser Tyr Arg 180 185 190 Leu Ile Ser Cys Asn Thr Ser Val Ile Thr Gln Ala Cys Pro Lys Val 195 200 205 Ser Phe Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile His Tyr Cys Ala Pro Ala Gly Phe Ala 210 215 220 Ile Leu Lys Cys Asn Asp Lys Lys Phe Asn Gly Thr Gly Pro Cys Thr 225 230 235 240 Asn Val Ser Thr Val Gln Cys Thr His Gly Ile Arg Pro Val Val Ser 245 250 255 Thr Gln Leu Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Ala Glu Glu Glu Val Val Ile 260 265 270 Arg Ser Val Asn Phe Thr Asp Asn Ala Lys Thr Ile Ile Val Gln Leu 275 280 285 Asn Lys Ser Val Glu Ile Asn Cys Thr Arg Pro Ser Asn Asn Thr Arg 290 295 300 Lys Ser Ile His Ile Gly Pro Gly Arg Ala Phe Tyr Thr Thr Gly Glu 305 310 315 320 Ile Ile Gly Asn Ile Arg Gln Ala His Cys Asn Ile Ser Arg Thr Lys 325 330 335 Trp Asn Asp Thr Leu Arg Gln Ile Val Glu Lys Leu Arg Glu Gln Phe 340 345 350 Gly Asn Lys Thr Ile Ile Phe Asn Gln Ser Ser Gly Gly Asp Pro Glu 355 360 365 Ile Val Met His Ser Phe Asn Cys Gly Gly Glu Phe Phe Tyr Cys Asn 370 375 380 Ser Thr Gln Leu Phe Asn Ser Thr Trp Asn Ser Thr Trp Asn Gly Thr 385 390 395 400 Glu Gly Ala Asn Asn Thr Glu Asp Thr Ile Thr Leu Gln Cys Lys Val 405 410 415 Lys Gln Ile Ile Asn Leu Trp Gln Glu Val Gly Lys Ala Met Tyr Ala 420 425 430 Pro Pro Ile Arg Gly Arg Ile Arg Cys Ser Ser Asn Ile Thr Gly Leu 435 440 445 Leu Leu Thr Arg Asp Gly Gly Ile Asn Glu Thr Glu Asn Gly Thr Glu 450 455 460 Ile Phe Arg Pro Gly Gly Gly Asp Met Arg Asp Asn Trp Arg Ser Glu 465 470 475 480 Leu Tyr Lys Tyr Lys Val Val Gln Ile Glu Pro Leu Gly Ile Ala Pro 485 490 495 Thr Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Val Val Gln Arg Glu Lys Arg 500 505 53 206 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 53 Met Gly Gly Lys Trp Ser Lys Arg Ser Gly Gly Gly Trp Ala Thr Val 1 5 10 15 Arg Glu Arg Met Arg Arg Thr Thr Pro Ala Ala Asp Gly Val Gly Ala 20 25 30 Ala Ser Arg Asp Leu Glu Gln Arg Gly Ala Ile Thr Ser Ser Asn Thr 35 40 45 Ala Ala Thr Asn Ala Asp Cys Ala Trp Leu Glu Ala Gln Glu Glu Glu 50 55 60 Glu Val Gly Phe Pro Val Arg Pro Gln Val Pro Leu Arg Pro Met Thr 65 70 75 80 Tyr Lys Gly Ala Leu Asp Leu Ser His Phe Leu Lys Glu Lys Gly Gly 85 90 95 Leu Glu Gly Leu Ile His Ser Gln Gly Arg Gln Asp Ile Leu Asp Leu 100 105 110 Trp Val Tyr His Thr Gln Gly Tyr Phe Pro Asp Trp Gln Asn Tyr Thr 115 120 125 Pro Gly Pro Gly Val Arg Tyr Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Trp Cys Phe Lys 130 135 140 Leu Val Pro Val Glu Pro Gly Lys Val Glu Glu Ala Asn Glu Gly Glu 145 150 155 160 Asn Asn Ser Leu Leu His Pro Ile Cys Gln His Gly Met Asp Asp Pro 165 170 175 Glu Lys Glu Val Leu Glu Trp Arg Phe Asp Ser Arg Leu Ala Phe His 180 185 190 His Met Ala Arg Glu Met His Pro Glu Tyr Tyr Lys Asp Cys 195 200 205 54 206 PRT Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 54 Met Gly Gly Lys Trp Ser Lys Arg Ser Gly Gly Gly Trp Ala Thr Val 1 5 10 15 Arg Glu Arg Met Arg Arg Thr Val Pro Ala Ala Asp Gly Val Gly Ala 20 25 30 Ala Ser Arg Asp Leu Glu Gln Arg Gly Ala Ile Thr Ser Ser Asn Thr 35 40 45 Ala Ala Thr Asn Ala Asp Cys Ala Trp Leu Glu Ala Gln Glu Glu Glu 50 55 60 Glu Val Gly Phe Pro Val Arg Pro Gln Val Pro Leu Arg Pro Met Thr 65 70 75 80 Tyr Lys Gly Ala Leu Asp Leu Ser His Phe Leu Lys Glu Lys Gly Gly 85 90 95 Leu Glu Gly Leu Ile His Ser Gln Gly Arg Gln Asp Ile Leu Asp Leu 100 105 110 Trp Val Tyr His Thr Gln Gly Tyr Phe Pro Asp Trp His Asn Tyr Thr 115 120 125 Pro Gly Pro Gly Val Arg Tyr Pro Leu Thr Phe Gly Trp Cys Phe Lys 130 135 140 Leu Val Pro Val Glu Pro Gly Lys Val Glu Glu Ala Asn Glu Gly Glu 145 150 155 160 Asn Asn Ser Leu Leu His Pro Met Cys Gln His Gly Met Asp Asp Pro 165 170 175 Glu Lys Glu Val Leu Glu Trp Arg Phe Asp Ser Arg Leu Ala Phe His 180 185 190 His Met Ala Arg Glu Ile His Pro Glu Tyr Tyr Lys Asp Cys 195 200 205 55 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 55 cctggctgtc gtccatgctg 20 56 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 56 caagcagcgg caggaccagc 20 57 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 57 atgctgtcca catctcgttc 20 58 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 58 cccaaagacc cactcatttg 20 59 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 59 tgagagggtc agacgcctga gg 22 60 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 60 agttttggtc ctgagagtcc 20 61 30 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 61 ttaggcatct cctatggcag gaagaagcgg 30 62 30 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 62 gtctggggca tcaaacagct ccaggcaaga 30 63 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 63 agagcagaag acagtggc 18 64 33 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 64 cgcacaagac aataattgtc tggcctgtac cgt 33 65 26 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 65 taaagaatag tgctgttagc ttgctc 26 66 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 66 ctgagggatc tctagttacc agag 24 67 23 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 67 gcagtagctg aggggacaga tag 23 68 25 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Primer 68 gagctcccag gctcagatct ggtct 25 69 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic peptide 69 Ser Ala Ser Thr Pro Ser Ser Pro Trp Ser Arg Pro 1 5 10 

1. An antibody or a fragment thereof comprising a light chain and/or a heavy chain, the light chain or heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID 2, SEQ ID 4, SEQ ID 6 or SEQ ID 8, which is capable of binding gp120 protein from HIV.
 2. A fragment of an antibody as defined in claim 1, the fragment being capable of binding gp120 protein of HIV with the proviso that when part of SEQ ID 4, SEQ ID 6, or SEQ ID 8 are present, at least one amino acid from amino acid number 119 of each sequence is present in the antibody fragment.
 3. An antibody or a fragment thereof according to claim 1, comprising Arg₉₅ of an HCDR3 domain.
 4. An antibody or a fragment thereof comprising a light chain and a heavy chain, the light chain comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID 2 and the heavy chain comprising an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID 4, SEQ ID 6 and SEQ ID 8, the antibody or fragment being capable of binding gp120 protein from HIV.
 5. An antibody fragment according to claim 1, which is an F(ab′)₂ or an Fab fragment.
 6. A nucleic acid molecule selected from: (a) a nucleic acid molecule which encodes for an antibody or a fragment of an antibody according to any preceding claim; (b) a nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID 1 and optionally one of SEQ ID3, SEQ ID5 or SEQ ID 7: (c) a nucleic acid molecule, the complementary strand of which hybridises to a nucleic acid molecule as defined in (a) or (b) and which encodes an antibody or a fragment of an antibody light chains and which is capable of binding gp120 protein from HIV; and (d) nucleic acid molecules which differ from the sequence of (c) due to the degeneracy of the genetic code.
 7. A vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 6. 8. A host cell comprising a vector according to claim
 7. 9. Use of an antibody or a fragment thereof according to claim 1, to identify a chemical compound capable of competing for the binding of the antibody or fragment thereof to HIV gp120 protein or a fragment thereof.
 10. A chemical compound identifiable by a method according to claim
 10. 11. A compound according to claim 10 which is a peptide.
 12. A peptide according to claim 11 which is a conformational epitope to one or both of regions Ile₄₂₀-G₁₂₂ and/or Pro₄₃₇-Pro₄₃₈ of the gp120 protein of HIV-1.
 13. A peptide according to claim 11 comprising an amino acid sequence selected from: GIQLANPPRLYG SEQ ID 9 FLQPPDFSHLPP SEQ ID 10 SAMEAPP SEQ ID 11 LLADTTHHRPWT SEQ ID 12 QEVGKAMYAPPI SEQ ID 13

or a sequence shown in any one of SEQ ID Nos. 14 to
 43. 14. A peptide according to claim 13 comprising both SEQ ID 9 and SEQ ID
 10. 15. A vaccine comprising a compound according to claim
 10. 16. An antibody or fragment thereof according to claim 1 for use to treat HIV infections.
 17. A kit for studying HIV infection in vivo or in vitro comprising an antibody or a fragment thereof according to claim
 1. 18. An isolated peptide comprising an amino acid sequence which encodes for one or both of regions Ile₄₂₀-Gln₄₂₂ and/or Pro₄₃₇-Pro₄₃₈ of the gp120 protein of HIV.
 19. A method of inhibiting the binding of HIV to a viral co-receptor comprising the use of an antibody or a fragment according to claim
 1. 20. Use of an antibody or fragment thereof according to claim 1 to evaluate AIDS progression and/or the state of infection as a prognosis marker.
 21. A compound according to claim 10 for use to treat HIV infections.
 22. A kit for studying HIV infection in vivo or in vitro comprising a compound according to claim
 10. 23. A method of inhibiting the binding of HIV to a viral co-receptor comprising the use of a chemical compound according to claim
 10. 24. Use of a compound according to claim 10 to evaluate AIDS progression and/or the state of infection as a prognosis marker. 